Knifeman who killed my boyfriend got four years - no deterrent

The girlfriend of a man stabbed to death days before the birth of his child hit out today after his killer was jailed for a minimum of just four years.

Mikey Brown was killed in a nightclub after a row over a spilled drink 16 days before his son, Romarni, was born. The builder, 23, of Croydon, had been enjoying a night out with friends when he was stabbed in the heart during a struggle on the dancefloor. He died later in hospital.

Shaun Greenidge admitted killing Mr Brown at the Works nightclub in Kingston. The 20- year- old, of Mitcham, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was given an indeterminate sentence at the Old Bailey but was told he would have to serve a minimum of four years.

He could be free in three years because of the time already served.

Today Mr Brown's girlfriend, Marcie Netting, broke her silence to criticise the "lenient" sentence.

Cradling their one-year-old son, she told the Standard: "My son has been left without a father. I have been left to bring him up alone. I tell him about his father every day. Romarni knows who he is and blows kisses to his picture.

"The Government talks about getting tough on knife crime but what message does this send out? This is no deterrent at all. The message is: if you want to carry a knife and kill someone do it because you will be out in four years. You could rob someone or just carry a knife and spend as much time in jail as Mikey's killer might."

Miss Netting, 20, now lives with their son near her family in Grays, Essex. She described the trauma of identifying Mr Brown's body when she was heavily pregnant. "I will never forget having to look at Mikey's dead body.

When our son was born I had such mixed emotions. I was happy to be a mother but I missed him so much and could see the other fathers holding their babies," she said.

Mr Brown got into an row with Greenidge's girlfriend on 23 June last year. Greenidge attacked him and witnesses described seeing the pair "rolling around, swinging at each other" before doormen broke them up.

Mr Brown was stabbed with a 3in lock knife. He was taken to Kingston Hospital but could not be saved.

Greenidge, who had a previous conviction for knife possession at Mitcham Fair in 2005, fled to Cyprus.

A Justice Ministry spokeswoman said sentencing was a "matter for the courts". A spokesman for the Judicial Communications Office said offenders given an indeterminate sentence are released after the minimum term only "if the Parole Board is satisfied the risk of harm the offender poses to the public is not unacceptable".