Connor Brown murder: Killer facing life in jail for 'Joker' knife attack

Leighton Barrass stabbed Connor Brown five times with a "Joker" knife, which had the words "Why so serious?" emblazoned on it, while his pal Ally Gordon encouraged the violence by "kicking and stamping" on the victim during the attack in Sunderland.

Despite doctors from the air ambulance service performing emergency surgery and carrying out transfusions on the stricken 18-year-old in the street, Connor was pronounced dead just over an hour later.

The senseless death of the popular teen led to mourners filling the city centre with floral tributes and messages and a fund set up to help his loved ones raised more than £27,000, with England and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson making a contribution.

Barrass, 20, of Hartside Square and Gordon, also 20, of Polmuir Road both Sunderland, denied murder and have been tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

After just less than five hours deliberations, jurors found Barrass guilty of murder on Wednesday, December 11.

Gordon was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

Both will be sentenced by Mr Justice Lavender on Thursday, December 12.

What happened on the night of Connor’s murder

Prosecutor Jamie Hill QC told the court the trouble had started that night, in the busy thoroughfare between pubs and shops, when Connor and his pal Stephen Nunn, who knew Gordon, bumped into the two attackers in the lane during a night out.

Mr Hill said the pair, although "mainly Barrass", had tried to sell Mr Nunn some drugs, which he declined.

The court heard Barrass then asked Mr Nunn to exchange a ten pound note for two fives, then gave him one £5 and a "pill" in return for his £10.

Mr Hill said in the row that followed, Mr Nunn "became angry and fearing an attack" so punched Barrass on the nose, which started bleeding, and the groups then dispersed.

But Mr Hill added: "Unfortunately, Barrass and Gordon did not go far. It is our case they stayed in the alleyway, having just retreated a short distance.

"It would seem Mr Barrass, having been punched on the nose, maybe perhaps embarrassed, was out for revenge.

"We say Mr Gordon was more than willing to help him.

"CCTV will show, we say, Mr Barrass, with a sharp object in his hand, walking past the camera."

The court heard Barrass said "watch what I'm going to do" as he and Gordon made their way back.

Mr Hill said the confrontation was "never going to be a fair fight, never just a scuffle or exchange of punches" and added: "Barrass was carrying a knife and he was going to use it".

The court heard one witness saw Barrass "rapidly approach" a group in the alleyway, saying he would "stab any one of them" and people started "backing off".

Mr Hill added: "As Barrass was threatening to stab someone, Connor Brown stepped forward and punched him, we say, to stop him carrying out his threat, but Barrass then proceeded to stab Connor Brown in the chest.

"Connor Brown tried to fight back but he was bleeding heavily. You will be able to see on CCTV what appears to be a large stain on his shirt.

"He was bleeding heavily and as he grappled with Leighton Barrass the pair ended up crashing into bins and falling onto the floor, with Barrass on top of Mr Brown, continuing to wield his knife, delivering blows to the front and back of his body."

Mr Hill said Gordon "took the opportunity" to join in the attack on Connor by kicking and stamping.

The teenager did manage to get back onto this feet, with help, but "staggered and collapsed" due to blood loss.

Fatal

The court heard three out of the five knife wounds to Connor were so hard that they damaged bone.

The fatal wound had penetrated his heart.

Mr Hill said St. John's ambulance staff and on off duty nurse tried to help Mr Brown and two doctors, including a consultant, with the air ambulance service had been close by and rushed to the scene by car.

"They were there within minutes and actually carried out emergency surgery in the street,” he told the court.

"They carried out various transfusions, opened up Connor Brown's chest and massaged his heart, did everything they could to help him."

The court heard witnesses at the scene had contacted Mr Brown's parents, who travelled to the scene but "all they could do was follow the ambulance".

Barrass was arrested at the scene and Gordon was arrested in Edinburgh, where he travelled by train after the killing.

Never a ‘fair fight’

Andrew Jones of the Crown Prosecution Service, has issued a statement following the convictions of Barrass and Gordon.

He said: "In the wake of an earlier altercation with a friend of Connor's over a five pound note, Barrass returned to the scene armed with a knife and began threatening a group of people that had gathered nearby.

“At this point he was bravely confronted by Connor, who punched him in an apparent attempt to stop him carrying out his threats.

"Tragically, this was never to be a fair fight, with Barass stabbing Connor repeatedly to the chest and back.

"His co-accused, Ally Gordon, encouraged Barrass on, before kicking and stamping at Connor as he lay on the ground.

“Rather than admit their cowardly actions, the pair instead claimed to have been defending themselves at the time of the attack.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with police to build a robust case against these two defendants.

"By piecing together forensic evidence, eye-witness accounts and CCTV evidence we have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that Barrass and Gordon were the aggressors in this fatal confrontation.

"We hope that their convictions for Connor’s death provide a measure of comfort to his family, at what must remain an incredibly difficult time for them."