Man jailed for life after cocaine-fuelled double murder spree on Christmas Day

A man who murdered his partner and neighbour and tried to kill his son in a crack cocaine-fuelled Christmas Day attack, has been jailed for life with a minimum of 39 years to be spent behind bars. Jazwell Brown, 49, repeatedly plunged a kitchen knife into Joanne Pearson, 38, and beat her with a baseball bat before turning his fury of his 18-year-old son Jake.

The terrified teenager managed to barricade himself in the bathroom of the family home in Milton Keynes and rang 999 before he heard their pet dog Tilly yelp in pain - as his father stabbed the defenceless animal multiple times. Brown then smashed his way into the bathroom and beat the teenager unconscious with his baseball bat before headed to a neighbours' flat where he stabbed 24-year-old Teohna Grant to death and attempted to murder her boyfriend Bradley Latter, 29, by stabbing him.

Luton Crown Court heard how Ms Pearson was stabbed 31 times in the attack, while Ms Grant suffered five sharp force injuries, including a deep stab wound to the neck, and Jake Brown was left with a life-threatening wound to his chest.

Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, told the court: "The evidence suggests that the assaults were wholly unprovoked, committed by the defendant whilst he was under the influence of cocaine."

The sentencing hearing was told how the defendant lived on the second floor of a communal housing block in Santa Cruz Avenue, Bletchley at the time of the events.

Brown and Ms Pearson had been in an "unhealthy" relationship for several years, with both taking Class A drugs and the pair were regularly heard arguing by neighbours, Ms Heer said.

Jake Brown visited their flat on the evening of December 25 last year and Ms Pearson told him they had both been smoking crack cocaine.

After Ms Pearson was reluctant to smoke the same drug in front of Jake, the defendant "seemed to become suspicious" and sat quietly, Ms Heer said.

She added: "The defendant then picked up a screwdriver and a kitchen knife from the table in the living room and approached Pearson, who asked him what he was doing and tried to walk away.

"Without saying a word, he began to stab her with the knife repeatedly in a frenzied attack.

"Jake Brown tried to pull his father away from her, only for the defendant to turn to him and stab him in the chest."

Jake Brown describes his father as being "completely expressionless" as he carried out the deadly assault.

Jake told police there had been no argument and nothing to justify the defendant's actions, and that the attack was like "watching a horror film.

Brown then made his way across the communal landing to the flat next door, where Mr Latter and Ms Grant, who had left their door unlocked, were sitting in the living room enjoying a quiet Christmas day together.

The defendant then stabbed both victims multiple times with a "blank" face and stared Mr Latter dead in the eyes and continued to stab him "without saying a word," the prosecutor revealed.

Soon afterwards, a witness living opposite the flat saw Ms Grant stagger onto the balcony of the flat holding the front of her throat with her hands, shouting "Help! I can't breathe."

Brown left the second flat and then walked "in a manner described as casual with his hands in his pockets" towards the car park where he got into his car.

Police officers, who had arrived at the scene and were standing in the road, attempted to stop him but the defendant instead drove directly towards them, forcing them to leap out of the way, before driving off without switching his headlights on.

Brown drove erratically at speeds of up to 50mph before eventually being brought to a halt by armed police in Milton Keynes.

Arresting officers described the defendant as "spaced out" and noticed blood on his hands as they were placed in handcuffs.

A bloodstained knife was found on the passenger seat of his car, with the defendant's fingerprint in blood on the knife, while spots of Ms Pearson's and Mr Latter's blood were found on his trainers.

Whilst in a cell following his arrest, Brown made the unsolicited comment: "Oh Jesus, what happened tonight What happened tonight, boy? Pure f****** madness. Pure madness.

"I've gone f****** crazy guys. Just gone crazy."

He went on to say "I've gone bloody looney", before later saying: "Not self-defence. Murder. It's plain murder, not self-defence. Murder".

In a victim impact statement read in court, Mr Latter said: "We both thought of you as our neighbour and close friend for a number of years.

"The impact your crimes have had on me are never-ending. My whole world and future was heinously taken away by you."

He added: "The world will now and forever go on without you here."

Parris Grant, Teohna's sister, said in her own statement that Teohna was "a pure and kind soul" and described her as "irreplaceable".

She said she now found herself becoming anxious in public, and addressed the defendant as she added: "I have an irrational fear now that anyone I come across will be like you.

"I don't see Christmas as Christmas anymore - I see it as the day you stole my sister."

Susan Pearson, Joanne's mother, said in her statement, read out by Ms Heer in court: "We can only imagine how horrific her final moments were at the hands of Jazwell Brown.

"Our own wellbeing has also been seriously compromised. Our faith in humanity has been seriously rocked. We don't think we will ever understand."

Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, possession of a knife in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on April 15.

The court heard he had 10 previous convictions for 15 separate offences, including an offence of battery against a former partner for which he was convicted in 2009.

Appearing in the dock, the defendant spoke only to confirm his identity during the sentencing and looked down with his head held in his head as the victim impact statements were read out.

Lawyer Celia Mardon of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Our thoughts today are with Jo and Teohna's families and loved ones who have suffered such unimaginable loss.

"We worked closely with Thames Valley Police to build a case to secure justice for all of those affected by Jazwell Brown's inexplicable and violent actions.

"Compelling evidence in our case included the accounts of eyewitnesses which were supported by forensic evidence.

"DNA from a baseball bat found in the kitchen and a knife recovered from Brown's car pointed to these being the weapons he used in the attack. Blood from some of the victims was also on his trainers and clothing.

"And while in custody, Brown made self-incriminating remarks, including, 'Not self-defence. Murder. It's plain murder.'

"Given the overwhelming evidence against him, Brown admitted to his crimes, thankfully sparing the victims' families and friends the ordeal of a trial. We hope that today's sentence helps them in some small way to find the strength and support they need as they continue on their path towards healing."