Devon & Cornwall Police News site

A man who fatally stabbed his housemate in Plymouth has been handed a life sentence following a nine-day trial at Plymouth Crown Court.

Mark Carpenter, 58, of Embankment Road, Plymouth, was convicted of the murder of 28-year-old Harry Jackson on Wednesday 11 November.

Today, HHJ Linford imposed a life sentence and ordered that Carpenter must serve a minimum term of 18 years before being eligible for parole. The minimum term was reduced by six months to 17 years and six months to reflect the time Carpenter spent on remand awaiting trial.

During the trial, the court heard how emergency services were called to a multi-occupancy house on Embankment Road at around 8.22pm on 4 May 2026 after a resident discovered Mr Jackson lying unresponsive in a communal hallway.

Officers attended the address and found Mr Jackson had suffered multiple stab wounds. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The subsequent investigation established that Carpenter had stabbed Mr Jackson several hours earlier. Despite the severity of the injuries inflicted, Carpenter failed to seek medical assistance or contact the emergency services.

Detectives uncovered evidence showing Carpenter had instead spent the afternoon and evening purchasing alcohol, making a number of phone calls, changing his clothing and attempting to clean bloodstains from within the property.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Jackson had suffered four stab wounds to his back, including injuries which penetrated his shoulder blade and rib cage, as well as a deep and potentially fatal wound to his wrist which severed an artery. Medical evidence concluded he died from catastrophic blood loss caused by his combined injuries.

Detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team gathered extensive CCTV, forensic and witness evidence which demonstrated Carpenter was responsible for the fatal attack. Blood belonging to Mr Jackson was found on the knife recovered from the scene, on Carpenter's clothing and on cleaning items recovered from the property.

During the trial, Carpenter claimed he had acted in self-defence. However, the jury rejected his account and found him guilty of murder.

Detective Inspector Joanne Rotchell of Devon & Cornwall Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said:

“This was a violent and senseless attack which resulted in the tragic loss of Harry Jackson's life.

“The evidence showed that after inflicting fatal injuries on Harry, Carpenter failed to seek help and instead took steps to conceal what had happened and continued to buy and consume alcohol.

“I would like to thank all of the witnesses who came forward and assisted the investigation, as well as the officers, staff, and experts whose professionalism and dedication helped secure this conviction.

“Our thoughts remain with Harry's family and friends, who have had to endure the devastating consequences of his death. We hope today's outcome provides them with some measure of justice.”