Christmas Day double killer jailed for 39 years

A man who stabbed two women to death and attacked his son on Christmas Day while high on drugs has been jailed for at least 39 years.

Jazwell Brown, 49, smoked crack cocaine before murdering his partner Joanne Pearson, 38, and neighbour Teohna Grant, 24, at a block of flats in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes.

Brown admitted the two murders and also attempting to murder his son, Jake, who was 17, and his neighbour Bradley Latter, 30.

Mr Justice Kerr sentenced Brown to a life in jail and told him he would serve a minimum of 39 before being considered as eligible for parole.

Luton Crown Court heard Ms Pearson and Ms Grant died at the scene after being repeatedly stabbed.

Ms Pearson lived with Brown in a block of flats where they had been smoking crack cocaine. Brown's son Jake, now 18, arrived and he was also attacked, but survived.

Ms Grant lived in a neighbouring flat and was murdered, while her partner Mr Latter was also attacked, but survived.

Ms Pearson's dog, Tilly, also suffered stab wounds, but survived.

Brown fled the scene but was spotted by eyewitnesses and captured on CCTV.

• Live updates from the sentencing hearing as they happened

He was arrested shortly afterwards and told officers: "I lost my cool tonight" adding it was "not self-defence... plain murder, it's plain murder, not self-defence'."

Family members were in court and heard how Brown's behaviour on the day was triggered by drug use.

Deanne Heer KC, prosecuting, said Brown, his son Jake and Ms Pearson had been in the living room smoking crack cocaine before Brown "began attacking" his partner after she refused to hand over the crack pipe.

She told the court that the teenager had described the scene as "like watching a horror film".

Ms Heer described how Jake was attacked after he attempted to save Ms Pearson.

He suffered a stab wound before grabbing his phone and shutting himself in a bathroom to call 999.

Ms Pearson could be heard on the emergency call screaming: "Jaz, no, you're killing me, tell my children I love them."

She suffered 31 stab wounds to her face, neck, chest, abdomen and arms as well scratches that were believed to have been inflicted after her death.

Brown then made his way next door and attacked Ms Grant and her partner Mr Latter.

Brown's sentence was broken down as follows, with prison terms to run concurrently:

• 39 years for the murder of Joanne Pearson
• 39 years for the murder of Teohna Grant
• 18 years for the attempted murder of his son, Jake Brown
• 21 years for the attempted murder of Bradley Latter
• 18 months for the unlawful possession of a knife in a public place
• Nine months for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal

Charles Miskin KC, mitigating for Brown, said he was "very, very sorry" and "cannot forgive himself" for his actions.

"It's very difficult for him to prove remorse... he cannot understand why he did it, but he did," he said.

Mr Miskin said Brown had a "paranoid view of the world".

Brown sobbed in the dock as a statement from his son was read out.

"Watching people you love being stabbed is heart-breaking... I heard Jo screaming for her life, begging him to stop," Jake said.

"Every night I hear Jo screaming for her life, and see Jo being stabbed."

The families of Ms Pearson and Ms Grant released statements following Brown's sentencing.

Ms Pearson family said they would "never understand why" he killed her.

"Jo always cared for everyone around her, which was evident even in her last moments of her life," they said.

"She was inseparable from her dog Tilly who she told us was her rock."

Ms Grant's family added that the "pain will never go away".

"The heartbreak is intensified by the realisation that we lost her due to the senseless, cruel actions of someone else," they said.

"Our world is emptier, full of sadness and holds a lot less laughter now that she has gone."

Det Ch Insp Stuart Brangwin of Thames Valley Police said after sentencing that the scenes in the flats were "indescribable" to witness.

"The surviving victims and the families of Teohna and Jo have suffered enormously," he said.

"Family members have described today's sentencing as part of the healing journey.

"We know there is a long way to go but I hope that after today they can at least start that process."

Celia Mardon, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "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."

• If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, there are contact details for dedicated support services available on the BBC Action Line