A man was stabbed to death outside his home in front of his mother.

Ashley Sarsero, 26, died in the early morning hours of September 10, 2023.

James Smith, 36, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for Mr Sassero’s murder and will serve at least 28 years in prison.

He was found guilty after a three-week trial.

A second man, Steven Morgan, also 36, was jailed for four and a half years after being found guilty of assisting an offender.

Swansea Crown Court heard Mr Salsero’s mother, Claire Richards, asked Morgan to call an ambulance 18 times before he did.

In a victim impact statement read remotely by Ms Richards, she said “her life will never be the same without my precious, amazing son”.

“I was the first person to look into his beautiful eyes when he came into this world, and I was the last person to look into his beautiful eyes when he left this world,” she said.

“My son died in my arms after being stabbed by James Smith.”

Ms Richards said her son would “light up a room with his infectious smile” and would “live on” through his family.

‘love of my life’

In a victim impact statement, Mr Sassero’s long-term partner Jade Jones said her world had been “changed forever”.

“Ashley’s death left me vulnerable, exposed, and scared,” she said.

“We plan to get married, start a family and grow old together… He wants to be a father.”

She said Mr. Salsero was “the embodiment of justice in the world” and would “always be a beloved person.” [her] Life”.

“I hope Ashley’s death was not in vain.”

The court heard Smith and Morgan walked Ms Richards home after she got into an argument with her then partner on a night out.

Mr Salsero was attending a concert in Swansea with friends when he returned home at around 4am on September 10.

“Ashley arrived at his mother’s house and found the two of you with his mother,” the judge said.

“You told him you weren’t drinking or doing drugs and he told you to get lost.”

Judge says James Smith ‘cannot withstand such a blow’ [his] I’m vulnerable”.

“In the front garden you produced the knife,” he added.

“You threatened to stab Ashley Sarsero in the neck. When Ashley Sarsero went outside, you, James Smith, stabbed him.”

‘I’m going to die’

The president of the court, Mr Sacero, called his mother for help, crying “Mom, call 999, I’ve been stabbed, I’m going to die”.

The judge said Smith called Mr Salsero a “f*****” because he was “crying to his mum”.

The knife used in the fatal attack has yet to be found, the court heard.

As Smith prepared to call an ambulance, Morgan told Smith to “run now.”

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In order to relieve his condition, Morgan performed first aid on Sassero.

The judge said: “Every instinct within you should have directed you to help Ashley, who bled to death in front of his distraught mother.”

“You know, knowing James Smith as well as you do, when you tell him to leave, he’s going to do whatever he can to avoid being arrested.”

Smith was also sentenced to three years in prison for possession of a bladed article in a public place and 18 months for the same previous charge. The sentences will run concurrently with the murder conviction.