David Malcolm, 43, from Eastville, Bristol, has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of 30-year-old Alex Mamwa. The conviction followed a trial at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, where Malcolm was also found guilty of possession of a bladed article. He was acquitted of murder.
The court heard how Malcolm and Mamwa had a long-running personal dispute, which escalated into violence. On March 5, Malcolm drove around St Pauls for over an hour in search of Mamwa before confronting him. During the brief altercation, Malcolm stabbed Mamwa in the upper thigh. Despite being rushed to hospital, Mamwa later died from his injuries.
The pair’s feud had intensified following an altercation on Valentine’s Day in which Malcolm sustained a cut above his eye. The tragic incident in March ended with Mamwa’s death and Malcolm’s arrest by detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team later that night.
In a powerful victim impact statement, Mamwa’s sister spoke of the profound grief and loss experienced by the family, describing the “trauma, pain, [and] heartache” of knowing her brother would never return. We will all need to learn to live without Alex because someone was so selfish as to kill our brother, son, uncle, nephew, grandson, friend, partner, mentor, support system, and anything else that he may have been to anyone in his life,” she said.
Mr. Mamwa had been making plans to reunite with his mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time in 24 years. His sister spoke of the excitement his mother must have felt in anticipation of seeing her son again, a reunion tragically cut short. Mamwa had also been planning to open a restaurant and had asked his sister to help research locations just a week before his death.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, acknowledged the devastating impact the death has had on Mamwa’s family. “Alex’s family have spoken bravely and very openly about the horrific impact his death has had on them,” he said. Malcolm is now beginning a lengthy prison sentence for his actions that night, and I hope this gives them some comfort at what continues to be a difficult time.”
As Malcolm begins his sentence, Mamwa’s family continues to mourn the loss of a beloved son, brother, and friend, whose life was tragically cut short.
