Jealousy that killed mate earns life term
Nov 21 2007 by Jule Wilson, The Journal
A MAN has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering his friend.
Mark Lewin, 35, will have to serve at least 15 years for the frenzied attack on Christopher Brown, who was kicked to death during an argument over his killer’s girlfriend, Heather Brown.
A jury at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday found quietly-spoken Lewin, of Tadcaster Road, Sunderland, guilty by a unanimous verdict after about two hours of deliberation.
After the case, a statement released by Mr Brown’s family said: “We are pleased with the outcome of the court’s decision; the verdict was only just.
“It won’t bring back Chris, the children’s father, but at least he was given justice. We lay him to rest and now he can be at peace. We would like to thank the police, our barrister and all of the witnesses for their hard work and dedication.
“Once again, we would like to thank everyone for their help in this matter and would like to thank the jury for making this decision.”
The court had been told the three were at a party when Lewin thought Mr Brown, with whom he had been friends for years, had been flirting with Ms Brown, the mother of his child.
The jury heard that the pair clashed a number of times during the evening before moving outside, when Lewin flew into a jealous rage, repeatedly kicking and stamping on his friend’s head. Onlookers said he had treated it “like a football”.
Nearby householders in Tamsin Road, Sunderland, where the fatal attack happened on July 14, also told police they had seen Lewin walk away twice before returning to continue the attack on the 40-year-old as he lay unconscious and bleeding.
The court was told Lewin had even jumped two-footed on Mr Brown’s head.
Attempts to resuscitate Mr Brown, of Tay Road in Sunderland, failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination showed 17 injuries to his head, at least six of them consistent with being kicked or stamped on.
Despite helping his injured friend, recalling the initial argument and repeatedly inquiring about his friend’s welfare to police after his arrest, Lewin insisted he could not remember inflicting Mr Brown’s fatal injuries.
He claimed that a combination of shock, alcohol and trauma had wiped his memory.
But Mr Justice Henriques said there had been no provocation for the attack. He said: “No reasonable man would have conceivably behaved in the way the defendant did.”
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Young, who led the investigation into Mr Brown’s murder, said: “This was a vicious and sustained attack on an innocent victim and we are delighted with the guilty plea and subsequent sentence.”
