Unmasked, boy who stabbed to death a Good Samaritan dad
THE 16-year-old boy who murdered a heroic father for stepping in to stop an attack has been jailed for life.
Joshuah Sparks must serve at least 13 years for stabbing 34-year-old James Gibbons to death as the dad was celebrating the second birthday of his twin girls.
The popular plumber was knifed after rescuing the homeless man who was being beaten up by Sparks and other youths.
The victim’s mother Wendy Richards yesterday called her son a “hero who stood up to bullies” while branding Sparks a “monster”.
The killer had confessed to the murder in a message on Snapchat saying: “I’ve just M someone off and that. I might as well go and kill everyone else I don’t like.”
Sparks can be named after a judge yesterday lifted the legal order which normally bans the identification of juvenile defendants.
Horrified
Mr Gibbons was killed after stepping in to save Christopher French, who had been hit with a brick by one of the yobs. The Good Samaritan chased them down an alley near his home in Laindon, Essex.
He had picked up a metal pole but posed no threat to the youths, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
Sparks returned with a six-inch knife and stabbed Mr Gibbons four times in front of his family and other horrified witnesses.
He bled to death just yards from his home where he and his fiancee Vicky Billingham had enjoyed a family barbecue to mark the twins’ birthday.
Sparks claimed self-defence but was found guilty by a 10-two majority last month.
Yesterday, he showed no emotion as he was jailed him for life.
Mr Justice Bourne told him it had
been it had been a “terrible and tragic” decision to run to get a kitchen knife. “This murder was committed after you took a knife to the scene, intending to have it as a weapon,” the judge said.
He added: “There was no rational explanation for what you did.”
In her impact statement to the court, retired college lecturer Ms Richards said: “James was a grafter, a real hard-working man, who wanted nothing else but to provide for his family.”
Mr Gibbons’ sister Abby Gibbons, who ran to the scene, said: “I saw his eyes flicker and then he stopped breathing.”
Ms Billingham told the court in a statement that she had had to relocate as she could not bear to be in the family home.
The family have set up Facebook and Instagram pages, called justice4jamesg to raise awareness and support others affected by knife crime.