Driver stabbed to death in front of son during road rage attack

A PEDESTRIAN stabbed a driver to death in front of his young son during a road rage incident, a court heard.

James Stokoe, a 40-year-old father, shouted at Alexander Layton after he was forced to perform an emergency stop in his BMW to avoid running him over, the jury was told. They heard that Mr Layton then “acted in a calm, considered but brutal manner” when he stabbed the motorist in Thornaby, Teesside, in May 2020.

Stokoe had taken his four-year-old to see his grandparents and the boy was in a car seat at the time of the attack.

Mr Layton, 34, from Shackleton Close, Thornaby, is on trial at Teesside Crown Court. He denies murder and possessing an offensive weapon, and will claim self-defence.

Peter Makepeace QC, prosecuting, said Mr Layton had got off a bus after a trip to a food bank when he crossed a busy main road, causing Mr Stokoe to brake sharply. He told the jury: “It was witnessed by several passers-by. It was a verbal dispute and it followed a near miss after this defendant went on to Trenchard Avenue, seemingly without looking or paying attention, into the path of Mr Stokoe’s BMW.

“During the verbal exchange, Mr Layton pulled out a large carving knife and repeatedly stabbed Mr Stokoe, who bled to death within minutes.” In the hours immediately before the attack, Mr Layton had threatened to murder a man who owed him money.

On the same day, he had texted a contact to share conspiracy theories about 5G masts, Mr Makepeace said. He had also emailed Stockton borough council to say he needed help with food and fuel and was feeling suicidal. After a trip to Stockton to pick up food from a church, at around 2pm his path crossed that of Mr Stokoe, Mr Makepeace said.

CCTV and dashcam footage showed Mr Layton getting off a bus, almost being run over. The driver pulled over to remonstrate with Mr Layton.

Witnesses said Mr Stokoe shouted: “Are you f---ing daft? I nearly knocked you over. I’ve got a kid in this car.”

Mr Layton, on the other side of the road at this point, apparently shouted back: “Are you talking to me? F--- off. I’m here. Come over. Come on.”

But, the prosecution said, that did not explain or excuse Mr Layton’s actions as he stabbed Mr Stokoe three times in the leg and once in the arm, severing his femoral artery.

The emergency services were called and an air ambulance landed at the scene but he died in the back of an ambulance. Mr Layton fled the scene but he was arrested the next night.

The prosecution said he was claiming he was acting in self-defence.

The trial continues.

‘During the verbal exchange Mr Layton pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Mr Stokoe who bled to death’