MARK CAMPBELL

MARK CAMPBELL STABBED TO DEATH L/CPL KINNON ARRIGO RAGNI

Mark Campbell, 35, from Glasgow, admitted the murder of L/Cpl Kinnon Arrigo Ragni, 29, from Edinburgh.

A Scot who stabbed a soldier to death outside a nightclub in west Wales has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years. Swansea Crown Court heard how Campbell, high on valium and alcohol, asked soldiers in Minnie's nightclub, Haverfordwest, for drugs. He was thrown out but returned with a 10-inch knife and after waiting outside stabbed Mr Ragni six times. The victim was taken to hospital with chest and stomach injuries but was dead on arrival. Campbell was on licence from prison at the time. Three men who chased and caught Campbell were commended by the judge and awarded £500 each for their bravery. The court heard that Campbell was thrown out of Minnie's nightclub on 23 November last year after the soldiers complained about him. Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, said from that moment, Campbell was determined "to get a squaddie". He returned to the nightclub with the knife and waited outside. When L/Cpl Ragni - who had not been involved in the earlier incident - appeared Campbell stabbed him six times to the chest and stomach. Police took Mr Ragni to hospital in a squad car but he was already dead. As Campbell fled he was advised by Edward Davies, 31, of Heol Penlan, Stopandcall in Fishguard, how to leave the town centre without being filmed by CCTV cameras. Campbell ran alongside the river, but he was chased by Alex Herbert, Aled Ward and Marco Scharf. Mr Herbert managed to kick Campbell, who threatened to stab him. The chase continued and he was tackled by Mr Scharf. At that point Mr Ward managed to get the knife from Campbell. The stabbing happened near Minnies nightclub in Haverfordwest The court heard how Davies was also on licence from prison at the time. He admitted an offence of assisting an offender and was jailed for 15 months. He told police he had not realised how badly injured Mr Ragni was. Mr Justice Evans said he had no doubt that Campbell had intended to kill. After the hearing, L/Cpl Ragni's mother Isabelle said Campbell would one day return to society and continue with his life. "That will never happen to my son," she said. "His life, his dreams, have all been taken from him. We will miss him forever. "It was very difficult when the soldiers came and told me what had happened. I said 'no, he's in Wales, he's in Wales.' He survived Iraq but not our society. "I think it makes it very, very hard for soldiers from this country to risk their lives abroad only to lose them here." L/Cpl Ragni was serving in the Pembrokeshire-based 14th Signal Regiment.