A teenager locked up for his role in the brutal murder of Carlisle man Lee McKnight will be punished next month for assaulting three crown court cell staff members during his trial.
Jamie Lee Roberts, now aged 19, was one of six people found guilty by a jury last summer of murdering Mr McKnight. The 26-year-old was dumped in a river during the early hours of July 24, 2020, having been beaten to the point of death over a drug debt in a city house which his heartbroken mum later branded a “torture chamber”.
Roberts — just like the five other killers who included his father, Paul, and a mother and daughter — received a life sentence for a crime he committed when aged just 17. A judge ruled the teen must serve a minimum of 16-and-a-half years’ detention.
Six handed life prison sentences for murder of Lee McKnight
Mr Justice Hilliard concluded Mr McKnight had been subjected to a “fearful” attack which was “prolonged and sustained”.
But Roberts junior is now facing an additional sentence for four other offences which he committed in the custody area at Carlisle Crown Court during the lengthy trial.
At the city’s magistrates’ court on Friday, Roberts appeared over a video link and pleaded guilty to assaulting three emergency workers — two male prison custody officers and a female court custody manager — and threatening to kill one of the men.
All of these incidents occurred on the morning of July 1, before the start of business after Roberts had been transported to court from custody.
His case was committed to the crown court, where he is due to be sentenced by a judge on February 7.
Roberts, previously of Grey Street, Carlisle, also admitted causing criminal damage to a crown court cell wall and bench on June 30. For that, he was given a six-month conditional discharge.
Listen to police quizzing six guilty of murdering Lee McKnight
