The grandfather of murdered 21-year-old Sam Cook died ‘of a broken heart’ just 12 hours after a jury found his grandson’s killer guilty.
Carl Madigan was jailed for life at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday for the murder of Mr Cook who was out celebrating his birthday.
The 22-year-old had a knife hidden in his sock when he went into the Empire Bar in the city on October 21 last year.
Dave Radcliffe, pictured with grandson Sam Cook, who is also pictured, right, was left a ‘broken man’ by his murder
Madigan stabbed Mr Cook through the heart after a minor altercation and later disposed of the knife in a drain.
The murderer re-enacting the killing in front of friends in the hours that followed the stabbing and was captured doing so on the CCTV cameras of a nightclub where he was also seen dancing on a sofa.
Dave Radcliffe, 82, suffered a heart attack on Friday after returning home from an evening with family to celebrate the sentencing, which carries a minimum term of 28 years.
Sam’s family – including his mum Gill, uncle Phil and grandma Val – said his grandfather was left a ‘broken man’ when the ‘apple of his eye’ died.
Mr Radcliffe – pictured – died just hours after Sam Cook’s killer was jailed for life and had been celebrating getting justice for the killing
In a statement they described Mr Radcliffe as heartbroken in the months that followed the stabbing.
‘He was a military man and didn’t show his emotions but from that very first morning, when he was told what had happened, from then on, he cried every single day,’ they said.
Madigan (pictured, left) stabbed Sam Cook (pictured, right) in the heart and re-enacted the killing on CCTV
‘It broke his heart. He was incredibly close to Sam – and he really looked up to him.
‘And to lose Sam in the horrendous circumstances that we did – it really did break him, it changed him.
‘Before he wasn’t the typical 82-year-old but he became frail and the sadness in his eyes was for all to see.
‘I don’t care what anyone says – he died of a broken heart – he did. The fallout from something like this, we have said it all along, it destroys families lives and it has claimed another.’
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Tivendale said: ‘It is clear from the evidence heard in court that Madigan is a dangerous individual, embroiled in a culture of violence that would have been completely alien to Sam and he will now spend a significant period of time in prison for the senseless murder.
‘Sam had only just turned 21, was celebrating his birthday and had his whole life ahead of him.
‘We know there are no words which can bring Sam back, nor repair the devastation which this caused to Sam’s family, his friends and all who knew him.
This is the knife Madigan used to stab Merseyside 21-year-old in the heart in the Liverpool bar
‘I want to show our gratitude to them all for their dignity, strength and courage in supporting each step of this process, which has been heart-breaking for everyone involved.’
Madigan pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a knife but was found guilty of murder following a trial.
Senior crown prosecutor Nicky Inskip said: ‘Madigan was caught on CCTV disposing of the knife and was also seen to re-enact the killing to his friends in the hours following the tragedy – clearly boasting about what he had done.’
Sam Cook’s father Alan Cook and mother Jill Radcliffe are pictured outside Liverpool Crown Court where Madigan was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years
Sam Cook – pictured with mother Jill, grandmother Val and grandfather Dave – was stabbed to death in Liverpool
Madigan discarded the knife in a drain (pictured) following the stabbing of Sam Cook and was seen that night dancing on a sofa in a nightclub
The family of Mr Cook, from Crosby, said: ‘Sam was kind, caring, well-mannered and funny.
‘He also had the most infectious smile which we will never see again, only in our hearts and in our memories, which we hold dear.
‘Sam was a young, handsome man who had everything to live for, he had such a bright future ahead of him.
‘Instead, we have been denied the chance to see him develop through different stages of his life, all snatched away in a few seconds which has changed our lives forever.
‘We have been handed a life sentence, which we will live and breathe for the rest of our lives.
‘Sam’s memory will be held close and dear by all his family, girlfriend, friends and all who had the privilege to meet him.’