Student who killed teen with ‘Mafia stiletto’ knife after skateboarding remark is jailed

A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing a university student with a “Mafia stiletto” knife.

Shiloh Pottinger was found guilty of manslaughter last month after the death of 19-year-old Luke O’Connor in Manchester in October 2022.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court heard that the pair were involved in an argument as Mr O’Connor and his friends walked home from a party in the city’s student area of Fallowfield.

When a light-hearted comment was made about Pottinger’s skateboard, a fight broke out and Mr O’Connor was stabbed repeatedly with the flick-knife.

The Manchester Metropolitan University student was taken to hospital but died a short while later.

Pottinger – who was 19 at the time of the killing – denied murder and claimed he had been acting in self-defence.

Mr O’Connor’s family described him as a “gentle giant” who loved music and football.

They said he was “truly one of a kind, whose presence would light up any room”.