Christmas Day killer who murdered partner and neighbour jailed for life
Jazwell Brown carried out an unprovoked and "frenzied" attack, also trying to kill his own son and repeatedly stabbing a dog belonging to his partner Joanne Pearson.
A murderer who killed his partner and neighbour on Christmas Day while high on cocaine has been jailed for life. Crazed Jazwell Brown carried out an unprovoked and "frenzied" attack which also saw him try to kill his own son and repeatedly stabbing a dog belonging to his partner, Joanne Pearson.
He set upon Joanne, who was known as Jo, with a kitchen knife, stabbing her 31 times, then turned the knife and a baseball bat on his son, Jake Brown. The youngster remarkably survived, and Brown repeatedly stabbed Jo's dog Tilly, a Staffordshire bull terrier, who was later spotted on CCTV limping from the scene.
The Mirror reports the attacks took place at their home in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, at around 6.30pm on December 25 last year. Brown then headed next door to another flat and began attacking Teohna Grant. He also stabbed Teohna's boyfriend 29-year-old Bradley Latter, who survived. Teohna was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Police previously said the dog had died, but they have since been informed Tilly survived. At a brief hearing back in April the 49-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to the murder of 38-year-old Jo, 24-year-old Teohna, and two counts of attempted murder for Mr Latter and the teenager.
He also pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a knife in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Today he was jailed for life for the two murders, and was told he will serve a minimum of 38 years and 194 days behind bars. He was also sentenced to 18 years for attempting to kill his son, and 21 years for attempting to kill Mr Latter.
The sentences will run at the same time as the murder sentence. He was sentenced to nine months in jail for injuring dog Tilly, and 18 months for possession of a knife, also to run concurrently. Charles Miskin KC, defending, said Brown had shown remorse for his actions and was 'profoundly sorry'.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the court: 'The evidence suggests that the assaults were wholly unprovoked, committed by the defendant whilst he was under the influence of cocaine.' Brown and Ms Pearson had been in an 'unhealthy' relationship for several years, with both taking Class A drugs and the pair regularly heard arguing by neighbours, Ms Heer said.
Jake Brown visited their flat on the evening of December 25 last year and Ms Pearson told him they had both been smoking crack cocaine. After Ms Pearson was reluctant to smoke the same drug in front of Jake, the defendant 'seemed to become suspicious' and sat quietly, Ms Heer said.
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'The defendant then picked up a screwdriver and a kitchen knife from the table in the living room and approached Pearson, who asked him what he was doing and tried to walk away. Without saying a word, he began to stab her with the knife repeatedly in a frenzied attack. Jake Brown tried to pull his father away from her, only for the defendant to turn to him and stab him in the chest."
Jake, now 18, called the police as he hid in the bathroom before Brown breached the room, holding the baseball bat. The lad told officers there had been no argument and nothing to justify the defendant's actions, and that the attack was like 'watching a horror film', the prosecutor said.
Brown made his way across the communal landing to the flat next door, where Mr Latter and Ms Grant, who had left their door unlocked, were sitting in the living room enjoying a quiet Christmas day, the court heard. The defendant then stabbed both victims multiple times with a 'blank' face, Ms Heer said.
The prosecutor added: 'He stared Mr Latter dead in the eyes and continued to stab him, without saying a word.' Soon afterwards, a witness living opposite the flat saw Ms Grant come out onto the balcony of the flat holding the front of her throat with her hands, shouting 'Help! I can't breathe.' Brown was later arrested by police after fleeing the scene in his car.
A bloodstained knife was found on the passenger seat, with the defendant's fingerprint in blood on the knife, while spots of Ms Pearson's and Mr Latter's blood were found on his trainers. Both women's families released a statement following today's sentencing. Joanne's family said: "Jo was a loving daughter, sister, mother, auntie, cousin, friend and neighbour.
"Her life was needlessly and cruelly cut short in horrendous circumstances on Christmas Day, in her own home at the hands of her partner. We will never be able to understand why. "Jo experienced many good and happy times and achieved lots in her short life. These should not be overshadowed by the difficulties she experienced.
"Jo sometimes did not make the best decisions, but who of us can say we don't get things wrong from time to time. Jo always cared for everyone around her, which was evident even in her last moments of her life. She was inseparable from her dog Tilly who she told us was her rock. We are sure Jo will be remembered with love and affection by all who knew her.
"There will certainly always be a huge Jo shaped hole in our lives." Teohna's family said: "She had a huge heart full of love and kindness, she was such a kind and caring daughter and sister. Teohna is irreplaceable and she has left a huge void in our lives and in our hearts. As a family we are heartbroken to have lost her.
"The heartbreak is intensified by the realisation that we lost her due to the senseless, cruel actions of someone else. Our world is emptier, full of sadness and holds a lot less laughter now that she has gone. Teohna deserved more time to live and deserved the chance to experience the good things life still had to offer her. The world is a darker place without Teohna's beautiful smile.
"We desperately wish that we could have made many more happy memories with Teohna, but all we can do now is cherish the past 24 years of treasured memories we made with Teohna when she was alive, which nobody can take from us. The pain will never go away, and there is no way of filling the void in our hearts. We know that Teohna would want us to live, not just survive.
"So for Teohna, we will somehow find the strength to do just that in memory of the most loved and cherished daughter and sister. Teohna we will miss you every day for the rest of our lives, and we will love you for just as long." Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin said: "Today Jazwell Brown was given two life sentences for the murders of Teohna Grant and Jo Pearson."
The Thames Valley Police officer added: "He was also sentenced for the attempted murder of Teohna's partner Bradley, the attempted murder of a teenage boy, possession of a knife and the wounding of a dog. The events that unfolded on December 25, 2024 were truly horrific and tragic. We may never know what prompted Brown to behave the way he did.
"In his own home, he stabbed his partner Jo 31 times, before turning the knife and a baseball bat on a teenage boy. Brown also repeatedly stabbed Jo's dog, Tilly, who survived despite her injuries. What remains even more incomprehensible is why Brown then left his home and tried the front door of a nearby flat, taking the knife and baseball bat with him.
"It was in this flat that he stabbed Teohna multiple times, causing fatal injuries. Teohna's partner Bradley was also brutally attacked, sustaining more than 20 injuries to his neck alone. Somehow, Bradley survived. The scenes that responding emergency services faced that evening are indescribable.
"As a credit to their incredible bravery and dedication to protecting the public and saving lives, the outcome could have been even worse were it not for their decisive actions. The surviving victims and the families of Teohna and Jo have suffered enormously throughout this process.
"I would like to thank them for placing their trust in Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, allowing us the time and space to thoroughly investigate and bring Brown to justice. Family members have described today's sentencing as 'part of the healing journey'. We know there is a long way to go but I hope that after today they can at least start that process."
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