Thomas Dalton found guilty of murdering ex-girlfriend
A 19-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of his former girlfriend in Staffordshire.
Thomas Dalton, of Attwood Street in Kidsgrove, stabbed Samantha Laney, also 19, in February at her father's house in Clayton. Post-mortem tests showed she died from a single stab wound.
The jury at Stafford Crown Court found Dalton not guilty of the attempted murder of Miss Laney's father Steven.
Dalton was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years.
Staffordshire Police said at the time of the murder Miss Laney had recently returned to her father's home after moving out of the Kidsgrove flat she and Dalton shared.
Officers said after the murder, on 21 February, Dalton fled the scene but was caught within an hour.
Det Insp Glyn Pattinson, who led the inquiry, said it had been a "premeditated crime".
He said: "What followed was the fatal stabbing of Samantha in front of people who were powerless to stop him."