A man will spend 22 years behind bars after he was convicted of murdering his boyfriend from Whitehaven.
Aaron Ray, 21, fatally stabbed student Jason Brockbanks, 24, while they were in Jason’s room at Mansion Tyne student accommodation on Howard Street on September 24 last year.
Ray claimed that he had acted in self-defence after he was attacked by Jason, who was studying at Northumbria University.
But a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of murder following a seven-day trial.
Despite knowing Jason had suffered fatal wounds, Ray left him in his room and got a taxi back to his Sunderland home, just minutes after carrying out the attack.
Jason’s body lay in the bedroom of his flat until his family reported him as missing after not hearing from him for several days.
Staff from Northumbria University raised the alarm with officers who then visited Jason’s room and discovered he had been stabbed.
Officers from Northumbria Police immediately launched a murder investigation and arrested Ray when CCTV footage showed the pair returning to Jason’s accommodation on the evening that he was stabbed.
Ray, of Mayfield Road, Sunderland, was charged with murder and denied the offence but was found guilty following a trial.
He was sentenced to 22 years in prison yesterday, March 23.
The senior investigating officers in the case, Detective Inspector Tomasz Fowler, of Northumbria Police, said: “Aaron Ray showed no regard for Jason’s life and has deservedly been convicted of his murder.
“On the night he killed Jason, he disposed of the murder weapon and fled the scene, failing to notify the emergency services that Jason had been seriously injured. If he had raised the alarm and called 999, Jason could still be alive today.
“Jason had been enjoying living in the North East after moving to the region and had his whole life ahead of him. We thank the jury for seeing through his lies and providing justice for Jason’s family and friends.”
After the trial, Jason’s family paid tribute to him. In a statement they said: “We would like to thank the police for all their assistance and support throughout this matter and the prosecution barrister and their team.
“We would also like to thank the jury for making the correct decision. We would like to thank Jason’s friends and the Mansion Tyne staff for their support throughout the trial.
“We miss our beloved son dearly and we are thankful we have justice for Jason.”
DI Fowler added: “This is a truly tragic case in which a popular young man lost his life and our thoughts very much remain with Jason’s heartbroken family, friends and loved ones.
“Jason was enjoying his life as a student in Newcastle and that was cruelly cut short by the actions of Aaron Ray, who was cold and calculating in fatally wounding Jason and then leaving the scene of the crime.
“There has been no evidence at all throughout this investigation to support Ray’s claim that Jason was violent or aggressive in any way and it was clear that his fellow students saw him as a friendly and sociable person.
“Thanks to the hard work of our officers, we were able to quickly identify Ray as the person responsible, apprehend him and get him before the courts. I’m pleased that he has now been given the conviction and sentence he deserves.”
The DI also thanked Jason’s family and loved ones for their patience, co-operation and dignity shown throughout the investigation and court proceedings.
He said: “We hope that the outcome of the trial will help provide a degree of closure for them in seeing the person responsible for this heinous crime brought to justice.
“No-one wins when violence occurs and I hope what has taken place sends a clear message to anyone who believes that such actions are acceptable – the consequences are devastating and can rip not only yours but the lives of others apart.”
