Life sentence for teenager who killed 'gentle giant' after trying to steal car

A TEENAGER was given a life sentence yesterday for stabbing to death a man who had caught him trying to steal a car.

Byron Cooper was ordered to serve at least 16 years in custody for the murder of George Stewart, a 62-year-old retired merchant navy officer described as "a gentle giant".

The dead man's partner said she hoped some good would come from the case, by other youths learning of the dangers of carrying and using knives.

"Hopefully, it will get through to people that this is what will happen to you… you will go to prison and you will suffer as you have made other people suffer," said Dorothy Williamson, 63.

"But it will not bring George back to me."

Cooper, 17, of Blair Terrace, Darvel, Ayrshire, was sentenced exactly a year after he had killed Mr Stewart near his home in Ranoldcoup Road.

Mrs Williamson added: "It has been the longest, most depressing year I have ever spent.

"George was a lovely man, a big gentle giant, a good guy. We were together for seven years. We met after each had lost a partner we really loved, and it was a bonus."

"I have lost twice. I got over it the first time, and I will just have to carry on again, but it will not be easy," she said. "What else can you do? You do not go and jump off a cliff. Scotswomen are strong."

Mrs Williamson and Mr Stewart had returned from holiday hours before he was attacked. He was walking his dog just after midnight when he saw Cooper, who had been drinking heavily, trying to break into a car.

He challenged the teenager and Cooper struck out with a knife, inflicting ten wounds to Mr Stewart's head and body. Mr Stewart staggered to his home, but he collapsed and died.

Cooper told police that he had been carrying the knife to break into a car.

"I stabbed him and I killed him," he said. "I didn't mean to do it. I didn't want to use it. I wanted to break into a car, that was my only intention."

At a trial last month, Cooper tried to plead guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide, but the jury convicted him of murder, for which a life sentence is mandatory.

Yesterday, the defence counsel, Gordon Jackson, QC, told the High Court in Edinburgh that Cooper had never been in trouble before and had been about to join the army when he committed the offence. There had been an argument at home, and he left the house.

"He was breaking into a vehicle and the gentleman, quite rightly, was annoyed and took steps to stop him. In panic and the heat of the moment, there was a lashing out and very serious consequences," said Mr Jackson.

"He cannot escape from the fact he had a knife in his possession. There is a lesson others should learn, that if you do not have one, no matter what happens, you will not end up using it.

"If you have one, there is the danger this kind of thing will happen."

In a letter to the court, Cooper said the offence showed clearly how it was easy for one occasion to change everyone's world for the worse.

Lord Kinclaven said he accepted Cooper had acted out of character and that the youth recognised the tragic loss for Mr Stewart's family.

"The fact remains, you have been convicted of the most serious crime, of murder," said Lord Kinclaven. "This was an assault with a weapon on an unarmed man in the street.

"Mr Stewart lost his life, and it is a tragedy for all concerned."

The judge added: "The decision to take a knife was described as a 'bad mistake', and there are lessons to be learned by others."