James Brindley (above), a company director’s son, was stabbed to death by a teenage boy as he was making up with his girlfriend on the phone following an argument, a court heard
A company director’s son was stabbed to death by a teenage boy as he was making up with his girlfriend on the phone following an argument, a court heard.
James Brindley, 26, had just reconciled with his partner Lauren Wong, 24, at the moment a knife was plunged into his heart on June 23 last year.
A court heard the couple had broken up earlier in the day following a ‘few silly arguments’ but had agreed to get back together before Mr Brindley was murdered.
Part-time model Mr Brindley told Ms Wong on the phone ‘I’ve just been stabbed’ before collapsing just yards from his home in Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands.
Jurors were told the fitness instructor had been walking home after meeting friends when he was attacked on The Croft park at around 11.40pm.
A group of teenagers on their way home from their school prom tried to perform CPR but he died on the high street in front of his parents who had rushed to the scene.
Aaron Kahrod, 21, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named, have gone on trial accused of murder at Birmingham Crown Court.
Part-time model Mr Brindley, 26, had just reconciled with his partner Lauren Wong, 24, at the moment a knife was plunged into his heart on June 23 last year
Yesterday, Ms Wong wept as she told the jury how they had split up earlier in the day but had settled their differences at the moment he was stabbed.
Ms Wong, of Manchester, had been dating Mr Brindley for a year and said they had been ‘inseparable’ and were in a ‘very serious’ relationship.
The pair had recently been on holiday to Barcelona and had met each other’s families and she had not believed him when he had broken up with her earlier that day.
Calling him later that night, she said the tone of their conversation had initially been ‘tense’.
She told the court his voice was raised but he was not shouting before the conversation ‘flipped’ and they began sorting out their differences.
Mr Brindley told Ms Wong on the phone ‘I’ve just been stabbed’ before collapsing just yards from his home in Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands. (Above, floral tributes at the scene of his death)
She added: ‘He was talking normally, there was no shouting. I remember feeling relieved because I didn’t want to break up with him.’
They had been talking for nearly 16 minutes when there was a pause and she heard the sound of wind.
Seconds later Mr Brindley told her: ‘I have just been stabbed. Two seconds. I am calling an ambulance.’
Ms Wong then sent him a Whatsapp message saying: ‘Tell me you’re okay. Do you want me to phone your parents?’
A group of teenagers on their way home from their school prom tried to perform CPR on Mr Brindley but he died on the high street in front of his parents (Mark and Beverley, pictured) who had rushed to the scene
Despite ‘extraordinary’ efforts to save his life with open heart surgery on the pavement, he died shortly afterwards.
The court also heard from three of Mr Brindley’s friends, who said he had appeared ‘relaxed and in good spirits’ when they had met up at The Avion pub.
They said he had drunk only water and had left after half an hour to go home.
Ms Wong, of Manchester, had been dating Mr Brindley for a year and said they had been ‘inseparable’ and were in a ‘very serious’ relationship
Giving evidence, passer-by Karl Westwood, 16, said he had seen a group of three men arguing before watching Mr Brindley collapse to the ground.
He added: ‘When we were driving past we saw three males standing on the Croft entrance, looking toward the church.
‘I had the window down, I could hear shouting, I heard more than one voice say “come on then”. I saw him [James Brindley] on the floor, there was a white and gold iPhone laying on the ground beside him.
‘One of my friends answered the phone and spoke to this man’s girlfriend. We applied pressure to his wound and tried to make him comfortable.’
Prosecutor Jonas Hankin QC said the knife used to pierce Mr Brindley’s heart was ‘disposed’ of by the defendants and has never been found.
The 17-year-old youth admits stabbing Mr Brindley but claimed he did so ‘in self-defence’ while Kahrod denies ‘playing an unlawful part in the incident’.
The pair, both from Aldridge, deny murder and the trial continues.
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