A chef who stabbed a man in the abdomen with a 17cm kitchen knife has been found guilty of manslaughter. John Robinson, 30, wielded the Japanese "Katto" blade in a confrontation outside his girlfriend's flat in Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, on March 1. Mason Jones, who was also 30, suffered devastating abdominal injuries in the stabbing and was pronounced dead three hours later.
Fatal Encounter in Alleyway
Robinson claimed it was accidental and happened when he slipped as he ran from the flat into a narrow alleyway to defend his girlfriend, Annabel Ramsey. A jury at Bradford Crown Court on Friday (September 25) convicted him of manslaughter after a two-week trial.
Mr Jones suffered a 16cm-deep stab wound after Robinson's 17.4cm-long chef's knife pierced through his black puffer jacket. He staggered out of the alleyway, but collapsed on the pavement. Mr Jones was discovered in Iron Row, Menston, by the Wharfedale Wombles, who had been collecting litter.
Arrest and Trial
Robinson and Miss Ramsey left in a taxi and travelled around three miles to his home in Derry Hill, Menston. The chef later told police: "The first thing I said to Annabel was, 'I think I stabbed him.'" He added: "We were pretty scared so we went to my house."
Police arrested Robinson at his home at around 11.20am that morning. Jurors heard Robinson had previously worked as a chef at Bradford Golf Club and had brought the knife with him to Miss Ramsey's flat in a bag. Robinson told police he would usually take the knife to Miss Ramsey's home to use when cooking.
Family Tribute and Sentence
Mr Jones, from Bournemouth, Dorset, and his friend, Will Clarke, had travelled from Bury after drinking and were invited by Miss Ramsey to her flat. After a row involving Miss Ramsey's friend, Nicole Clements, the men were thrown out, but later returned asking if they could charge their phones. Miss Ramsey eventually rang Robinson and asked him to come over after an earlier confrontation. Robinson arrived by taxi and was inside the flat when Mr Jones and Mr Clarke returned again.
He told police the men appeared angry and claimed Mr Jones was banging on the door, directing racial abuse at him. Robinson said: "They were angry. It looked like they wanted to beat somebody up." The defendant claimed he was frightened after seeing Mr Jones with his hands around Miss Ramsey's neck and "picked up the first thing" he could see to protect her. Robinson said he stepped outside carrying the knife, told the men "Go away" and slipped in the narrow alleyway. He told police: "I stabbed him by accident."
He denied deliberately stabbing Mr Jones and had pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter and possessing a bladed article in public. The jury cleared him of murder, but found him guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. He was also unanimously convicted of having a bladed article in public. Jurors deliberated for 11 hours and 25 minutes before reaching their decisions. Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Robinson to 17 years in prison.
Mr Jones's family said the conviction would not bring their Mason back, adding: "We have been given a life sentence. The pain and hurt this has caused our family are catastrophic, and we will carry this with us for the rest of our lives, knowing that he was taken in such a horrendous way. Mason was a loving son, brother, dad, partner and friend. His heart was the biggest, and his smile lit up every room. His cheeky personality and love for life will remain with us forever."
Det Insp Hannah Dixon from West Yorkshire Police, said: "This was a senseless act that has had a devastating impact on his family." She added: "As this case shows, carrying a knife is never the answer."
