Sunderland Christmas Dinner host found guilty of manslaughter after guest fatally wounded with kitchen knife

A Christmas Day dinner host who cut the throat of one of his guests and killed him has been convicted of manslaughter.

Construction boss Adam Jenkins severed Simon Birch's jugular vein and carotid artery when he drew a knife across the left side of his neck in the late evening on December 25 2021.

Mr Birch, 39, who was the partner of Jenkins' sister Emma Jenkins, lost an "enormous" amount of blood and was declared dead just after midnight on Boxing Day.

Jenkins told jurors Mr Birch had violently attacked Emma her just before the deadly confrontation and at one point he feared he had killed her.

After a trial at Newcastle Crown Court Jenkins, 36, of Sunderland Road, Newbottle, Sunderland, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Prosecutor Francis Fitzgibbon KC told the court Jenkins, a construction firm boss who is involved in charity work, had hosted a family festive celebration at his home.

He lived at the property, which was set in its own land and had outhouses including a private bar and games room, with his partner Natalie Shaw.

Mr Fitzgibbon said those present appeared to have a happy day although there may have been a suggestion of some "simmering tensions" between Mr Birch and his partner Emma.

The court heard after the family and guests had eaten, everyone ended up in the bar building for karaoke and games and the adults continued drinking and "pushing the boat out" to celebrate Christmas.

Host Jenkins left the outdoor bar and went to bed in the main house at around 9.15pm.

The court heard the evening took a "sour turn" when there was an incident involving Mr Birch in the bar room and "ill feeling" developed between him and his partner Emma Jenkins.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the couple went to bed separately in the main house but Mr Birch was later disturbed by noises of others in the house and got back up,

found Emma Jenkins and "slapped her in the head".

The prosecutor told the court: "Emma Jenkins ran downstairs, followed by Simon Birch and now things get out of hand, chaos starts."

Mr Fitzgibbon said Jenkins was also woken up by the disturbance and by then "tempers were running high".

He added: "Mr Birch was seen to punch the defendant and another witness suggests the defendant pushed Mr Birch over and threw a toy at him, then they were both fighting."

The court heard Jenkins was ushered into the kitchen by his partner Miss Shaw, to get him "out of the way of" Mr Birch.

Mr Fitzgibbon said Emma Jenkins suffered a cut to her head which was bleeding and could have been either from Mr Birch punching her or from falling onto an object.

The court heard while Jenkins was in the kitchen his partner Miss Shaw rang for the police, Mr Birch was "ushered out of the house".

Mr Fitzgibbon said Mr Birch appeared "calm" on CCTV footage which showed him walking away but Jenkins then went out of the back door, with three knives and approached him.

He said: "The defendant does not pause when he goes up to Mr Birch, there may or may not have been a brief exchange of words but almost instantly the defendant drew the knife quickly and firmly across the left side of Mr Birch's throat, causing unsurvivable injuries."

The court heard Miss Shaw and Jenkins tried to help the injured man.

Jenkins rang the emergency services afterward and said "I've killed him". He can be heard crying an asking for an ambulance.

Jenkins told jurors the festivities that day had been "perfect" but said after going to bed he had been woken up and told Emma and Mr Birch were fighting.

He said he got up and saw Emma run past the landing "screaming at the top of her voice", followed by Mr Birch.

Jenkins said: "Simon just started shouting at her and started running after her down the stairs.

"I started following them at this point.

"He (Simon) put his hand on her hair and he swung her around the bottom of the stairs and flung her straight into the sitting room.

"He grabbed her and he started upper cutting her. She was screaming at the top of her voice that he was going to kill her and I was screaming for him to stop.

"He was out of control at this point. I was feeling awful, my anxiety was through the roof.

"I had to try stop him. I put my hand on his left bicep because that was the hand he was using to hit her but he was too strong."

Jenkins added: "I saw Simon hit her and Emma fell to the floor.

"She was unresponsive and I turned to Simon saying you've ******* killed her.

"Simon came towards me and all I remember is he threw two punches.

"The next thing I remember was on the settee waking up and Simon was on top me."

Jenkins said he had been ushered into the kitchen and added: "I remember turning and seeing a draw open. I'm not sure which draw it was and the next thing I remember I was in the car park."

He added: "I can recall both me and Simon shouting at each other. I then recall Simon walking towards me.

"I can remember standing still and he came towards me.

"I remember he threw a punch and it hit me in the chest.

"The next thing I recall, I was at my back door and Natalie was shouting 'Adam, Adam, Adam.'

"I can remember going back to Natalie and Simon. Natalie was screaming 'ring an ambulance' and I went and got my phone."

Emma Jenkins told jurors her relationship with her brother was "brilliant" and added: "I just miss him so much."

Miss Jenkins told the court she has gaps in her memory of what happened that Christmas night but remembers Mr Birch hitting her, "with force".

Miss Jenkins added: "My memory came back when I was in the kitchen, when I walked out of the back door and seen him on the floor."

She said she remembered her brother screaming "I've killed him" in a "hysterical" manner and attempts being made at CPR.

Miss Jenkins added: "I was just numb, I didn't believe what was happening."

Miss Jenkins said Mr Birch was a "different person on drugs" and when asked if she misses him she replied: "Obviously, yes."

Today, after a four-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, a jury cleared Jenkins of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.He has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced at a later date.

Detective Superintendent Jane Fairlamb, of Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team, said: “This is another tragic case that highlights the real and irreversible consequences of carrying a knife.

“For this to happen on Christmas Day is especially poignant for Simon’s family – what should have been a time of celebration and togetherness ended in the most devastating of outcomes.

“Our thoughts remain with them as they attempt to come to terms with the events of the last 18 months, and while no outcome can remove the grief they are facing, I hope they can take some comfort knowing the person responsible for Simon’s death has been brought to justice.

“There are never any winners when it comes to knife crime and I sincerely hope this sends a strong and sobering message across the North East.

“To anybody who carries a knife or weapon, please think again - you risk ruining more than one life forever.”

If you have any information about anybody you believe may be carrying a knife or a weapon, please report it to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.

You can also pass on information via independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.