An 18-year-old has been jailed for life after he lured a student to an Essex park and murdered him "for reasons that remain impossible to comprehend" days before Christmas.
Steven Davenport, 18, of Hillside Grove, was sentenced today at Chelmsford Crown Court to a minimum of 18 years for stabbing Ashley Woolley, also 18, at 3.15pm on December 18, 2014.
Police described the attack as a "tragic and senseless murder" and said the victim had no idea of grim fate that awaited him when he was lured to Oaklands Park, Chelmsford, and stabbed to death.
Senior Investigating Officer Supt Mark Hall, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "On December 18, 2014, for reasons that remain impossible to comprehend, Steven Davenport set out to commit murder.
"Ashley had absolutely no idea that Davenport intended to harm him and he was lured to his death in what was a cruel and calculated act.
"The facts outlined in court have shown that Davenport is a most dangerous young man and it is right that he should now serve a long custodial sentence.
"It is my wish that Ashley’s family and all those affected can now start to rebuild their lives.”
Davenport initially denied murder, but changed his plea on the first day of his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 20.
