‘They have ruined our lives and their own’
Connor Brown’s family make heartfelt speech after killers found guilty
A knifeman is facing life behind bars for the murder of a teenager who was stabbed to death after a city centre row which started over a £5 note.
Leighton Barrass stabbed Connor Brown five times with a “Joker” knife, which had the words “Why so serioues?” emblazoned on it, while his pal Ally Gordon encouraged the violence by "kicking and stamping" on the victim during the attack in Sunderland.
Despite doctors from the air ambulance service performing emergency surgery and carrying out transfusions on the stricken 18-year-old in the street, Connor was pronounced dead just over an hour later.
The senseless death of the popular teen led to mourners filling the city centre with floral tributes and messages and a fund set up to help his loved ones raised more than £27,000, with England and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson making a contribution.
Barrass, 20, of Hartside Square, and Gordon, also 20, of Polmuir Road, both Sunderland, denied murder and have been tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
After just less than five hours deliberations, jurors found Barrass guilty of murder yesterday.
Gordon was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.
Both will be sentenced by Mr Justice Lavender today.
Prosecutor Jamie Hill QC told the court the trouble had started when Connor and his pal Stephen Nunn, who knew Gordon, bumped into the two attackers during a night out.
Mr Hill said the pair, although "mainly Barrass", had tried to sell Mr Nunn some drugs, which he declined.
The court heard Barrass then asked Mr Nunn to exchange a £10 note for two fives, then gave him one £5 and a "pill" in return for his £10.
Mr Hill said in the row that followed, Mr Nunn punched Barrass on the nose and the groups then dispersed.
But they came back with Barrass carrying a knife. The court heard people started "backing off ".
Connor stepped forward and punched him, to stop him carrying out his threat to stab someone, and Barrass stabbed him in the chest. He continued to stab him and Gordon joined in by kicking and stamping.
Three out of the five knife wounds were so hard that they damaged bone. The fatal wound penetrated his heart.