Connor Brown murder: Knifeman given life sentence for killing Sunderland teenager in stabbing

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.

The violence started after a row erupted when Barrass, who had been given a community order just three weeks earlier for previous city centre trouble, short-changed one of Connor’s pals by £5 when he asked to swap a £10 note for two £5s in a back lane, after trying to sell him drugs.

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 over £27,000, with England and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson making a contribution.

‘No remorse’

In a heartbreaking impact statement, Connor's parents Tanya and Simon said: "Connor's death has left a void in our lives that can never be repaired.

"Every day Connor is in our thoughts. I miss seeing his smile, hearing his laugh and shouting at him for keeping shoes on in the house.

"It's the little things that hit us hard.

"Our daughter has lost her big brother. She is 14 years old. Her 14th birthday was one week after his death. A birthday that no 14-year-old should go through.

"I have struggled to put into words the effect Connor's death has had on us as a family.

"We have had a lot of support from family, friends, and the community, which has only highlighted how devastated people feel as a result of Connor's death.

"We are in the process of moving house. It is a struggle daily in our home, I keep waiting for Connor to walk in the door.

"Sat listening to the last moments of Connor's life, it has been like reliving the first few days of his death.

"There has been no remorse shown by those responsible. They still have their lives and have robbed my son of his.

"We will never see him married, never hold his children, never hear his laugh or see his smile, the smile that lit up every room.

"There is some comfort that justice has been served and I can only hope lessons have been learned from this case that it is never justified to carry a knife.

"No parent should suffer what we have, and continue to, suffer."

Jailed

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

Barrass was found guilty of murder and having a knife in public and has been jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

Gordon was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and having a knife in public after the killing.

He has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Mr Justice Lavender told the men: "Your actions did not just end Connor Brown's young life. They brought misery and grief to the lives of others, especially his parents and sister.

“His mother has made a moving statement in which she has explained, much more eloquently than I ever could, how their lives have been devastated."

The judge said he was satisfied Barrass was aware he was carrying a knife when he and Gordon arrived in Sunderland city centre.

He added: "You went into the alley which runs from Stockton Road to Park Lane, which is used by young men and women to move from one nightclub to another.

"You tried, without success, to sell drugs to some of the young men you met there.

"One of those men was Stephen Nunn, a friend of Connor Brown's. He punched you, Leighton Barrass, in the face and gave you a bloody nose.

"You retreated back up the alley but then you made the fatal decision to come back down the alley. You held the knife and said 'I'll stab any one of yous'.

"Connor Brown did not give in to your threats but decided to take you on.

"He punched you but you stabbed him three times in the side and twice in the back. Two of these blows damaged his ribs and one went through this shoulder blade.

“You stabbed him in the heart and that's what killed him.

"Ally Gordon, you encouraged your friend by joining in and kicking Connor Brown while he was being stabbed."

The judge added: "You were both significantly intoxicated.

"Moreover, for as long as he remained conscious, Connor Brown will have suffered considerable pain and the distressing CCTV footage of him stumbling down the alley and collapsing gives some idea of what he went through.

"There were many others around you and you, Leighton Barrass, threatened to stab any one of them."

What happened on the night of Connor’s death

Prosecutor Jamie Hill QC had told the court the trouble had started that night, in the busy thoroughfare between pubs and shops, when Mr Brown and his pal Mr 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 £10 note for two £5s, 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."

Mr Brown did manage to get back onto this feet after he was stabbed but "staggered and collapsed" due to blood loss.

The court heard both killers had sent letters to the court expressing remorse for what happened that night.

Jonathan Whitfield QC, defending Barrass, said: "He did not set out that night to be involved in this type of offending."

Andrew Fisher QC, defending Gordon, said: "The actual harm he caused was nil. The actions of kicking and stamping caused no injury of any kind.”