THE BRAVE parents of stabbing victim, Alex Doyle, have spoken out for the first time about their son's tragic murder, and have urged the courts to stop failing law abiding citizens and come down hard on those who are caught carrying knives.

Keith and Sue Doyle, of Nursery Lane, Wilmslow have been left exhausted following the nine day trial at Chester Crown Court which drew to a close last week, but have still found the strength to get their message across.

Nicholas Rashford, 19, of Stamford Road, Lacey Green, Wilmslow, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serves a minimum of 16 years last Thursday for the murder of Alex Doyle.

Alex, 20, was killed in Wilmslow from a single stab wound to the chest following what Mr Justice Elgan Edwards could only describe as - "a stupid and childish argument".

Alex's devastated mum, Sue, said if Nicholas Rashford had not been carrying a knife on that terrible evening her son would still be alive today.

Now the Doyle family have spoken publicly about their son's "senseless" death and hope their heartache will send a clear and powerful message to the courts.

Sue said: "We hear so much about the police clamping down on guns, but what about knives? It's fairly obvious if someone is caught with a knife down their waistband late at night, they intend to inflict harm."

"We are reading more and more stories in the newspapers about stabbings, and yet when these people appear before the legal system their defence lawyers are able to provide excuses for them."

"My son's death, surely, tells us that there is something fundamentally wrong with a legal system in which young men are not afraid of the consequences of being caught with a knife."

Sue added that it was obvious if someone was carrying a knife for a valid reason, such as a builder or an angler.

"Why can't the courts see this?" Sue asked.

While the Doyle family try and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, Sue still found it in her heart to empathise with the Rashford family.

Sue said: "It was hard on both families, but the verdict was correct. I agreed with the summing up of the judge when he said that he did not think that Nicholas Rashford set out to stab Alex that night."

"But because he felt confident enough to carry a knife with him, he was able to use it to threaten Alex after a juvenile argument. Alex never carried a weapon. That argument then turned in to a murder, and now two young lives have been wasted."

The impact on the family has been hard and each family member has struggled to cope with the loss in their own way.

Alex had become extremely close to his father over the last year, according to Sue.

She said: "Alex was working with his dad as an electrician and the pair would go off to work together each morning. But now when Keith goes off to work there's an empty space next to him."

For Kate, Alex's younger sister, it has been too much to bear, and her A levels have been affected so her plans for university have been put on hold.

Sue assured: "We are a strong family and we will got through this because we love each other. It is the one important thing that is helping us get over the loss of Alex."

Alex died on Friday, February 13 this year on the Lindfield Estate North and a memorial garden has been built in his honour.

Nicholas Rashford was sentenced to life for murder with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 16 years on Thursday, July 22 before Recorder of Chester, Elgan Edwards.