Man found guilty of attempted murder following Northampton stabbing

An 18-year-old man has been found guilty of an attempted murder which took place in Northampton last year.  

Alan Kelly appeared at Northampton Crown Court this morning (March 20) to hear the verdict following the end of a two-week trial.

The incident happened on the evening of February 5, 2025, in Kingsthorpe Road, when a man in his 20s was stabbed in the chest following an altercation.

The victim sought help from a local shop who provided him with first aid before paramedics arrived and took him to hospital. A CT scan later showed that the knife had gone through the man’s right lung as well as grazing his heart.

Thankfully, following an extensive period in hospital, he went on to make a full recovery from his physical injuries.

An investigation was launched, led by Northamptonshire Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and two men were arrested and subsequently charged.

At an earlier hearing at Northampton Crown Court last year, 20-year-old Arilleus Wright, previously of Northampton, pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place, and was today sentenced to two years and seven months in prison.

His co-defendant Kelly, previously of Northampton, was found guilty of attempted murder and will be sentenced on June 19.

Lead investigator - Detective Sergeant Baz Hughes said: “This has been a very complex investigation, and I am really pleased to see it conclude with this guilty verdict.

“Alan Kelly is extremely lucky that this was not a case of murder, and I hope he reflects on this fact at the beginning of what is undoubtedly a long stretch behind bars.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the victim in this case for his support throughout our investigation and I wish him well as he continues with his recovery.”

Detective Inspector Nicky McAllister said: “Tackling serious violence remains a priority for Northamptonshire Police and I am grateful to the jury for delivery a guilty verdict today.

“Using a knife during an altercation can have devastating consequences and I hope this case demonstrates the seriousness with which we take incidents of this nature.

“DS Hughes has approached this investigation with a real determination to get justice for our victim and it’s great to see that rewarded with today’s result.”