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Three get life sentences for killing father
Dated: 23 Nov 2007
Five minutes of random violence one night in May this year led to one Sunderland man left dying in the street and another escaping death by inches.
And the officer who led the investigation into the death of new father Kevin Johnson believes it was sheer luck he was not leading a double murder investigation.
Although police ended up with a number of crime scenes and two victims, the events of the early hours of May 19 unfolded at a rapid pace.
Officers received their first call at 12.25am that a man had been attacked by three people outside his home in Partick Road, Pennywell. The victim, Kevin Johnson, was taken to hospital but died soon afterwards.
Two minutes later the police control room received a report of three youths damaging in nearby Geddes Street.
And just three minutes after this officers were told of another man who had been approached by the same group in Galway Square and then stabbed in the chest.
Detective Chief Inspector Roger Ford, in charge of the enquiry, said: "As Kevin Johnson came out of his house in Partick Road to see what was happening, he was attacked and had a brick thrown at him. They then attacked Kevin with a knife, stabbing him once in the heart and all three left him dying in the street.
"In a nearby street cars were damaged, with tyres slashed and vehicles scratched, before the three came across their next victim, a man making his way to a nearby petrol station. They approached him before stabbing him in the chest without warning and it was only luck it didn't cause a fatal wound."
Over the following two days police arrested 17-year old Tony Hawkes of Mortimer Street, 19-year-old Dean Curtis of Forest Road and 16-year-old Jordan Towers of Fell Road, all Sunderland, who were all sentenced to life imprisonment today for murder and wounding with intent.
Hawkes was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years, Curtis to a minimum of 17 years and Towers to a minimum of 13 years.
DCI Ford said: "This was a brutal and cowardly murder. These teenagers, who had been drinking beforehand before carrying out a sustained and vicious attack. They then showed a complete lack of remorse for what they did, although they were happy to boast to their friends and family about their activities that night.
" The fact these defendants can leave a man lying dying in the street and then go and attack someone else moments later shows their total lack of control and speaks volumes about their attitude to others."
DCI Ford added: "We could quite easy have been looking at a double murder - it is just luck the attack on the second victim did not cause a life threatening injury."
"We've been able to secure these convictions through a combination of good detective work, the support of the CPS and the Forensic Science Service. Although the weapon used was never recovered, the DNA on the coat of the second victim matched that of Kevin Johnson, showing the same knife was used in both attacks. In all probability the knife used was a small kitchen knife.
"I'd also like to pay tribute to all the witnesses who came forward and were prepared to come to court to give evidence against these people. The response from the community shows how outraged they were at the events of that night and the fact law abiding citizens are not prepared to tolerate criminal and anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods.
"Throughout this investigation though our thoughts have been with the family of Kevin Johnson who have acted with great dignity since day one. They have been left traumatised by the events of that night and I know Kevin's partner Adele is devastated that their son Chaise will never really know his father and Kevin will not see his son grow up and all those moments which make being a parent so special."
"Our sympathies remain with Kevin's family and I hope today's sentencing can finally help them move on."Kevin Johnson was an extremely popular man who was an avid Sunderland football fan, just like the rest of his family.
A former pupil of Southmoor Comprehensive School, he worked for a local demolition company and was a keen pool player in his spare time. A father to one-year-old son Chaise, Kevin and partner Adele were planning for a second child and became engaged in December last year.
Adele said her partner's death has left her facing a daily struggle to keep going.
She said: "The events of May 19 has had a major effect on me and my children's lives. I can't eat or sleep properly and I keep turning over to cuddle Kev then realise he's not there. I have dreams this is all a big nightmare then wake up back to this horrible reality.
"These three people have taken away my life, my future children and my wedding day. We never even had the chance to have a family holiday.
"Kev only got to see his son's first seven months. He will never see his son's first tooth, his first haircut or his first day of school. He'll never be able to play football with him or take him to a match. Chaise will never have his own memories of his dad, just other people's.
"People keep telling me it will get easier over time but they are wrong - it gets harder. You just learn to put a public face on it better. I'm counting the weeks since I saw him last I miss him so much.
"I hope these three people realise what pain and suffering they have caused."
Kevin's parents Katy and John Johnson said: "When we first heard the news we were distraught. Why could this happen to us? Why could a young life be wiped out in such a callous and senseless way? What a waste of a life.
"Over the weeks that followed, the worst weeks of our lives, we went through a turmoil of emotions and it was our lowest time. We had lost a son and with that loss went a part of us that would never be regained.
"Up to the time of the funeral we were still expecting Kevin to walk into the room. Part of us couldn't or wouldn't accept he had gone. But the funeral brought the harsh reality home - it was now we felt hatred and anger.
"We are here today to prevent another parent's loss, a loss that is instantly felt by all and sundry but only remembered by a few. We are here for justice."
The family also want to thank their family liaison officers, DCs Peter Foggin and Chris Carson, for all their work throughout the investigation.
