Thomas Michael Cavanagh sentenced over fatal stabbing of Samuel Davey, son of car dealer Peter Davey Thomas Cavanagh, outside the District Court, has been jailed for the stabbing death of Samuel Davey. A MAN has been sentenced to a non-parole period of two years and nine months for fatally stabbing another man during a fight at Pasadena. Thomas Michael Cavanagh, 32, of Goodwood, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges over the death of Samuel Davey, son of car dealer Peter Davey, in August 2012. Cavanagh was originally charged with murder but prosecutors replaced the charge with manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years, with a non-parole period of two years and nine months. Judge Paul Muscat backdated the sentence to March last year. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Muscat said a group of four men including Mr Davey and his brother, Josh, were waiting outside Cavanagh's home. Judge Muscat said each of the men had a "petty"gripe with him and wanted to confront Cavanagh. He said Cavanagh had received text messages from one of the men calling him a coward and asking whether he had booked a bed at the Ashford Hospital. "I accept that you held genuine fears yourself of being the target of violence," Judge Muscat said. He said Cavanagh was carrying a carving knife in his bag when he returned home and saw the "intimidating" group. He said one of the men struck Cavanagh in the head, causing him to stumble. "I'm satisfied that fearing you were going to be assaulted, you began to search for the carving knife," he said. It's what happened after this initial confrontation that is difficult to fathom. Judge Muscat said Cavanagh then ran away and either tripped or was caught and cornered by the group. "You were flailing the knife in a frenzy... one of the blows struck and penetrated deep in the chest of Sam Davey," he said. You did not know who you struck, such was your desire to fend off your attackers. Judge Muscat said Cavanagh then ran off and jumped through the window of a house where he told the occupants that people were trying to kill him. He said the four men who attacked Cavanagh did not cover themselves in glory as not only were they out to get him as a group but "when their brother and friend lay dead on the street" the men refused to cooperate with the police. "Their behaviour that evening was shameful and each will have to live with the knowledge that their own actions very much contributed to this death," Judge Muscat said. During sentencing submissions last month, Cavanagh apologised to Mr Davey's family . "I will live with the regret and remorse this event has caused for the rest of my life," he said. Today Judge Muscat said the he accepted that Cavanagh was contrite and very remorseful. This crime should never have happened. You knew Sam Davey and his family, having gone to school with his younger brother," he said. Judge Muscat said the sentence should in no way be seen as a reflection of the value of Mr Davey's life. He said the circumstances of the offending were atypical as Cavanagh was "not the aggressor but simply reacting."