Anthony Ford in court for killing a family man

A violent thug plunged a knife into a family man who died in the arms of his pregnant partner on her birthday outside a Point Cook day spa.

Would-be dad Benjamin Singleton’s killer has been sentenced to at least five years’ imprisonment.

A Werribee man will serve at least five years behind bars for fatally stabbing a much-loved family man outside a day spa during an argument.

Anthony Allan Ford, 29, was initially charged with the murder of Benjamin Geoffrey Singleton but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Supreme Court where he appeared for sentencing on Thursday.

Justice Rita Incerti ordered that Ford serve five years of the eight-and-a-half years sentence before being eligible for parole.

Mr Singleton was outside the Seasons 5 Resort and Spa at Point Cook on August 13, 2023 when a heated verbal and physical argument began between him and Ford.

While they were wrestling on the ground, Ford removed a knife from his pocket and stabbed Mr Singleton multiple times, including inflicting two stab wounds to the heart.

He collapsed and died in the arms of his pregnant partner Biance Burt on her birthday, despite a prolonged CPR.

The Seasons 5 Resort and Spa at Point Cook where Anthony Ford fatally stabbed Benjamin Singleton with a knife.

Justice Incerti said although Ford did not initiate the fight, he aggressively approached Mr Singleton with a vicious weapon in his pocket and was willing to use it.

“You instigated the altercation even by just your words, knowing that you had a weapon and the results speak for themselves.

“You left the scene and did not attempt to provide assistance. Instead, you made poor attempts to disguise your appearance.

“Victoria is plagued by senseless knife crimes and it is totally unnecessary. The community needs to learn that pulling a weapon, whether it’s a hunting knife or a kitchen knife, is not acceptable and has dire consequences for all involved,” she said.

Justice Incerti said at 29 with plenty of time to turn his life around, Ford’s rehabilitation depended very much on his recovery from substance abuse.

Ms Burt’s victim impact statement was read out in court during a plea hearing last week.

“I can still feel the exact feeling of Ben in my arms. I still see the way his eyes changed

as he died,” she said.

Ms Burt said on the day he died, they were two days away from finding out the baby’s sex.

“I will never look at my birthday in the same way again. This year was the first birthday since his death, and I was not able to celebrate because all I could think about was that it’s been a whole year without him, and all of the things that he’s missed,’’ she said.

“I think I would be pregnant again if Ben was still here. He said to me once ‘Let’s put a baby in every bedroom.’ Ben was so happy to become a father. Now, my son will forever never have a father.”