Jazwell Brown jailed for at least 39 years over Bletchley Christmas Day double murder

Summary

Jazwell Brown has been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 39 years, after pleading guilty to murdering his partner Joanne Pearson and his neighbour Teohna Grant
They were stabbed on Christmas Day at a block of flats in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes
He was also sentenced for the attempted murder of his son and another neighbour, who both spoke outside court
Mr Justice Kerr tells Brown that Christmas will now be a "time of dread, stress, grief and mourning" for the families of the victims
The court earlier heard Brown had been smoking crack cocaine, after which he attacked Ms Pearson in an assault one survivor said was "like watching a horror film"
In a 999 call, neighbour Bradley Latter described Brown as being "crazy" after he entered their flat and attacked him and Ms Grant

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Video shows Christmas Day double murderer's arrest

Live Reporting

Written by Alice Cunningham, with Brian Farmer and Nicola Haseler at Luton Crown Court. Edited by Andrew Woodger

Drugs triggered 'unusual behaviour', defence tells courtpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 17 June
Brian Farmer
Reporting from Luton Crown Court

Charles Miskin KC tells the court that a defence of diminished responsibility would not apply as Jazwell Brown had "no underlying medical conditions".
He adds that the psychiatric report had said that "temporary insanity" may apply.
"It seems probable that the use drugs triggered some form of unusual behaviour in him," Mr Miskin says.
"For those people who are seeking an explanation.... that is as far I think as I can go."
Defence counsel now addressing courtpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 17 June

Charles Miskin KC, defending Jazwell Brown, is now addressing the court and offering mitigation before the judge passes sentence.
Mr Miskin says Brown's history was that of a "man who had a fairly ordinary life", but he has a "paranoid view of the world".
He says a psychiatric report of Brown had been prepared and tells the court: "He [Brown] concurs with the prosecution that drug intoxication underlies the offending."
Defendant sobs in dock as teenage son's statement readpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 17 June

Jazwell Brown sobs as a statement from his 18-year-old son Jake, who he also attacked, is read to the court by the prosecution.
The teenager, who was 17 at the time of the Christmas Day attack, says that his trust in Brown was "betrayed" that day.
"Watching people you love being stabbed is heartbreaking... I heard Jo screaming for her life, begging him to stop," the statement reads.
"Every night I hear Jo screaming for her life, and see Jo being stabbed.
"I have trust issues now."
He adds that he is now "struggling to do daily tasks" and his father's actions were "unforgiveable".
Sister says ordeal has been 'traumatic' for familypublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 17 June

Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC now reads to the court a statement from Joanne Pearson's sister, Samantha Pearson.
"In no uncertain terms it has been incredibly traumatic for my parents and our wider family," she says.
"She [Joanne] knew she was being murdered and Jazwell Brown... showed no reaction.
"Not only did he show my sister no mercy, he provided no explanations for this action.
"A light has dimmed and in truth I don't think my parents will ever regain their previous energy."
Mother's statement continuespublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 17 June

Susan Pearson's statement continues to be read to the court by the prosecution.
"[Joanne's] death has left a huge hole in our lives," it adds.
"We have overwhelming feelings of loss. The emptiness is unimaginable... anger at what happened.
"We don't think we will ever understand why Jazwell Brown murdered Jo on that fateful day."
In her statement she described Brown's actions as "despicable".
'We should never have to arrange our daughter's funeral,' says motherpublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 17 June
Nicola Haseler
Luton Crown Court

Image source, Thames Valley Police
Relatives of murdered woman Joanne Pearson are now having their victim impact statements read to the court by prosecutor Deanne Heer KC.
One from the her mother Susan Pearson says: "We can only imagine how horrific her final moment were.
"Jo's life was cut short. She had ambitions to study law, however that was on hold while she focused on her health.
"She wanted to make her children proud and explain to them why they were adopted.
"As parents we should never have to arrange our daughter's funeral."
Jazwell Brown covers his eyes while he listens.
'Getting full justice is all I have left,' says victim's motherpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 17 June

Teohna Grant's other sister and her mother are also reading statements to the court.
Her sister, Jade Grant, says: "Jazwell Brown didn't just take my baby sister, his actions... have deeply impacted and affected every single one of the people who loved her.
"I don't think my brain will ever fully accept that she is not here anymore."
Teohna's mother, Petra Grant, says "getting full justice for Teohna is all that I have left".
"I no longer have three daughters - my youngest is no longer here, the kindest sweetest and most caring daughter any mother could wish for," she tells the court.
Injured victim addresses defendantpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 17 June
Nicola Haseler
Luton Crown Court

Bradley Latter, who was injured in the attack and was the partner of murdered Teohna Grant, tells Jazwell Brown: "You were our friend and neighbour.
"I've lost my job due to the injuries; all we showed you was respect.
"For you to take a beautiful harmless woman; I wish to take my life each day to be with her."
Mr Latter has an image of Teohna on his T-shirt.
Brown looks down towards the floor.
'No more cuddles, no more chuckles,' says bereaved dadpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 17 June
Nicola Haseler
Luton Crown COurt

Teohna Grant's father, Reginald Crookall, is also reading a statement to the court.
"To explain my feelings is impossible," he says.
"Part of my heart has been ripped out - no more cuddles, no more chuckles or 'I love you, dad'.
"My little girl taken from me in one vile act.
"Christmas Day will now always be a day of sadness.
"A vile human being took my Teohna away from me. "
'Christmas will never be the same,' says victim's sisterpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 17 June
Brian Farmer
Luton Crown Court

Image source, Thames Valley Police
Parris Grant, sister of 24-year-old Teohna Grant who died in the attack, is reading her victim impact statement to the court.
"I am still struggling to come to terms with what's happened," she says.
"I am struggling to accept that she has gone."
Ms Grant says to Jazwell Brown: "I sincerely hope you live with guilt for the rest of your existence.
"Teohna may just have been a target to you but Teohna was my little sister.
"I will never be able to forgive you for what you have done."
Brown looks at Ms Grant as he strokes his chin.
She adds that what happened was "soul-crushing" and Brown's actions were "disgusting".
"Christmas will never be the same again for any of our families," she says.
Defendant previously convicted for batterypublished at 11:39 British Summer Time 17 June

The prosecution tells Luton Crown Court that Jazwell Brown has 10 previous convictions.
This includes one offence for battery (also known as assault by beating) of a previous partner in 2009.
Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC says a previous partner had told police Brown was violent.
She adds that Brown's relationship with Joanne Pearson was "volatile".
Bloodied baseball bat found in flatpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 17 June

The court is now being shown images of the crime scenes within the flats.
Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC says drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in a living room while a blood-stained baseball bat was found in a kitchen.
Defendant made no comment during interviewspublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 17 June
Brian Farmer
Reporting from Luton Crown Court

Jazwell Brown was interviewed on 26 and 27 December by Thames Valley Police.
Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC tells the court: "Apart from suggesting that he blacked out at some point, he made no comment."
Defendant says he 'lost my cool'published at 11:33 British Summer Time 17 June
Nicola Haseler
Luton Crown Court

The court is told that after his arrest Jazwell Brown was heard in his police cell saying he had "lost my cool tonight" and "I don't know what happened".
"It turned into a bloody disaster because I was hanging out with them too long, it rubbed off on me," he said.
"Just hanging out with the loons it rubbed off on me."
The court hears that he later said: "How long is life? I'm probably going to prison."
The prosecution says he was found with cannabis and cocaine in his system.
Knife found with defendantpublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 17 June

Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC tells the court Jazwell Brown was later arrested that night.
She said a "blood stained knife was found on the passenger seat next to him in the car" and the hearing is shown an image of a knife.
Dog was also attackedpublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 17 June
Brian Farmer
Luton Crown Court

A dog was also injured during the attack - a Staffordshire bull terrier named Tilly that belonged to Joanne Pearson.
She was found "running around outside" after the incident.
Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC tells the court the bitch had "multiple wounds - mostly to her neck and chest".
The court is shown an image of Tilly.
Another neighbour suffers '26 sharp force injuries'published at 11:22 British Summer Time 17 June

Another neighbour Bradley Latter suffered "26 sharp-force injuries" during the attack and he was taken to John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
The prosecution says his injuries were "consistent with a sustained assault".
Teohna Grant suffered neck stab woundpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 17 June

Image source, Thames Valley Police
Jazwell Brown's neighbour Teohna Grant was found in her flat and was killed by a fatal wound to the neck, the court hears.
This caused immediate and significant blood loss, prosecutor Deanne Heer KC says.
She says there were "five sharp-force injuries, including a stab wound to the neck" on her body.
"Her life could not be saved," she adds.
Ms Grant was pronounced dead shortly after 20:00 on 25 December.
Teen suffered potentially life-threatening stab woundpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 17 June
Brian Farmer
Reporting from Luton Crown Court

Image source, Elizabeth Cook/PA
Image caption,
Jazwell Brown pictured in court at a previous hearing in December
Prosecutor Deanne Heer KC is outlining the injuries the teenage boy suffered.
The court is shown computer-generated images and Ms Heer says that one stab wound he suffered was potentially life-threatening.
The murderer Jazwell Brown is bent over looking at the floor as he listens.
Joanne Pearson stabbed in neckpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 17 June
Nicola Haseler
Luton Crown Court

Joanne Pearson died as a result of a stab wound to the neck, says prosecutor Deanne Heer KC.
She suffered a number of "blunt force injuries" and had scratches on her abdomen that were inflicted with the tip of a knife.
"They appear to be post-mortem injuries inflicted after she had died," Ms Heer adds.