{"id":475,"date":"2026-05-01T16:19:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/much-loved-dad-of-three-chased-and-stabbed-by-monster-as-he-lay-defenceless\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T16:19:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:19:15","slug":"much-loved-dad-of-three-chased-and-stabbed-by-monster-as-he-lay-defenceless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/much-loved-dad-of-three-chased-and-stabbed-by-monster-as-he-lay-defenceless\/","title":{"rendered":"Much-loved dad-of-three chased and stabbed by &#8216;monster&#8217; as he lay defenceless"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_5f510e\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Brandon Byrne, 23, was habitually carrying a kitchen knife in Newark town centre when he fatally attacked dad-of-three James Cook as he lay defenceless on the ground<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\"><\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37099191\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"James Cook\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-152425.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Victim James Cook\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Victim James Cook<cite aria-label=\"Image: Nottinghamshire Police \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Nottinghamshire Police )<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A man who murdered a much-loved dad-of-three by stabbing him in the neck and stomach after a <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/pubs\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">pub <!-- --><\/a>brawl has been <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/crime\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">jailed for life<\/a> with a minimum term of 23 years.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Brandon Byrne, 23, was habitually carrying a kitchen knife in Newark town centre when he fatally attacked James Cook as he lay &#8220;defenceless&#8221; on the ground, a trial at <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/nottingham\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Nottingham<\/a> Crown Court heard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Byrne had been ejected from the rear of the pub that night after he was headbutted and suffered a bite injury to his lip during a brawl, the court was told.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">During the attack, which happened in Castle Gate at around 11.50pm on April 30 last year, Byrne &#8220;paused&#8221; before he kicked the victim to the head.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37099181\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37099181\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Brandon Byrne\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-152538.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Brandon Byrne, 23, has been jailed for life \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Brandon Byrne, 23, has been jailed for life <cite aria-label=\"Image: Nottinghamshire Police \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Nottinghamshire Police )<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Passing sentence today, Judge Steven Coupland said the second stab wound to 40-year-old Mr Cook&#8217;s body was inflicted while he was defenceless on the ground.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Byrne, dressed in a blue suit and a red tie for his sentencing hearing, was found guilty of murder on Thursday &#8211; the first anniversary of the killing. He showed no emotion during the reading of victim impact statements describing him as a &#8220;monster&#8221; who had cruelly &#8220;destroyed an entire family&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Judge Coupland told Byrne, who pleaded guilty to the separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon, that he believed he had intended to kill Mr Cook.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37099187\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37099187\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Brandon Byrne was captured on CCTV\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-152625-2.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Brandon Byrne was captured on CCTV\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Brandon Byrne was captured on CCTV<cite aria-label=\"Image: Nottinghamshire Police \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Nottinghamshire Police )<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Judge Coupland told the defendant: &#8220;In an incident that lasted less than two minutes you murdered James Cook.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He was a hard worker, someone who showed love and a desire to help others and someone who was described as cheeky and a charmer. His loss will be deeply felt by his family and friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;This case is a tragic example of what can happen when anyone carries a knife in public. What you did shows you were acting out of revenge. Rather than stay and help Mr Cook you walked off and left him. I am satisfied there was an intention to kill.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In a victim impact statement, one of Mr Cook&#8217;s daughters said her father&#8217;s killer was &#8220;the monster who stole my dad like he was nothing&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And another daughter said she now feels \u201ca type of hurt that cuts through you like a knife that no one should go through\u201d.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37085197\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37085197\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"General view of Nottingham Crown Court\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_REA_TEM_300125CrownC_004JPG.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The case was heard at Nottingham Crown Court\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The case was heard at Nottingham Crown Court<cite aria-label=\"Image: Joseph Raynor\/ Reach PLC\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Joseph Raynor\/ Reach PLC)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Byrne, who has two young children, had been provoked inside the pub, the judge said, adding: &#8220;I accept that you are remorseful that James Cook is dead. But that remorse is tempered by the fact that you chose to deny the offence and have a trial.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Offering mitigation prior to sentencing, defence KC Lisa Wilding submitted that Byrne had not formed an intention to kill at the time of the stabbing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She said: &#8220;The events that took place were the tragic combination of a sequence of events that were avoidable by him but also not wholly of the defendant\u2019s making. In his words he holds his hands up to it. He never wanted any of this to happen.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/much-loved-dad-three-chased-37099019\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brandon Byrne, 23, was habitually carrying a kitchen knife in Newark town centre when he<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777652355_1_Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-152425.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}