Richard Helm's killer jailed for at least 24 years over knife attack
Violence-loving murderer Danny Cooper will spend at least 24 years behind bars after stabbing 37-year-old father of four Richard Helm to death with a bread knife.
His friend 27-year-old Ashley Wilson who egged him on and was convicted of manslaughter was jailed for eight years.
Judge James Burbidge QC, told Cooper as he gave him a life sentence with a minimum 24 years in prison: “There was a feud that was none of your concern but you decided to make it your business.
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“You are a man with considerable strength especially when in a rage.
“Your intention was to kill, you took up the largest knife available and plunged it deeply into his body, such that it went through bone.”
The judge said to Wilson, who drove Cooper from the scene immediately after the stabbing: “You allied yourself with him, a man who had a knife and intentionally assisted or encouraged the attack.”
The two men had been asked to stay overnight as protection at the Raven Crescent, Ashmore Park home of Matty Stinson who expected reprisals after Cooper beat up Richard Helm's sister Kelsie in the street and broken windows in her home and car earlier in the evening of October 11.
Stinson, who had been released from jail a month earlier, was in a feud with Luke Fry, the former partner of mother of three Kelsie, who he claimed had stolen a large amount of money from his house while he was in prison.
Cooper did not know him well but heard about the bitter quarrel while spending the evening drinking with him and Wilson and decided to join in on the side of his host.
Protective Richard Helm and his brother were phoned at 5am on October 12 and asked by their father William to check on their sister after she phoned him with news of the attack on her.
She had taken the children to a different address after Cooper's attack on her and her Adey Road, Ashmore Park home but the brothers were wrongly told the culprit was Stinson.
They both headed unarmed for his home in the neighbouring street and became involved in a brawl with Stinson on the front drive which 32-year-old father of three Cooper joined while Wilson looked on.
Cooper selected the largest knife of the three from a knife block in the kitchen before going outside to confront the brothers and within moments had plunged the blade through one of Richard's ribs six inches into his chest and right through the heart.
He died at the scene.
Cooper, whose children are aged seven, six and two, was not living with his partner during the weeks leading up to the murder but she still supports him and was in court to see him convicted.
He trained as a boxer, won bouts at white tie charity events, liked carrying knives and had a string of previous convictions which included possession of a 10 inch carving knife found under the seat of his car.
Prosecutor Mr Stephen Linehan QC said the defendant was 'out of control and enjoying the violence' when the murder took place.
Ironically Wilson and Kelsie often walked home from school together in their youth but prosecutor Stephen Linehan QC argued that Wilson had "intentionally assisted or encouraged the attack."
Ms Rachel Brand QC, defending Wilson, a 27-year-old Network Rail worker with an 11-month-old child, maintained: "He was a secondary party. His role was minor. Any encouragement he gave to Cooper was by presence rather than action or words."
Cooper, from Maytree Close, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, was convicted of murder but admitted assault and criminal damage while Wilson of Guernsey Drive, Chelmsley Wood, was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
'Nothing can bring my Rich back'
Father of four Richard’s partner of 14 years Claire Penn said: "I feel unable to grieve and stay strong for my children but when I am alone I let the feelings come out.
"I miss him every day, miss the joy on the faces of my children when he played with them and hate to see the youngest struggling to understand the concept of Daddy not coming back."
She added: "Our girls won’t have their father walking them down the aisle, the boys won’t be able to take their dad for their first pint together, Christmas, birthdays and holiday photos won’t include dad.
"There will always be an empty seat at the head of the table whenever we celebrate. This breaks my heart.
"I know nothing can bring my Rich back but I hope we can move forward as a family as best we can. We just miss him so very much."
WATCH: Police welcome jail sentence
Senior investigating officer Jim Colclough, speaking after the hearing, said: “Cooper spent the night drinking with Wilson and got himself involved in a dispute that was nothing to do with him.
"Cooper was in a rage and assaulted Ms Helm and another woman for no apparent reason.
"On receipt of this news Mr Helm has chosen to seek out those who were responsible, and this ultimately led to his shocking murder.
“This was a merciless attack and one made all the more senseless because Cooper had never even set eyes on Mr Helm before.
“Cooper’s actions that morning resulted in a tragic waste of a life and our thoughts remain firmly with Richard’s family. Although their lives have been devastated I hope today’s sentence can give them some comfort, knowing the men responsible have been jailed."
Angry and frustrated
In a statement read out at court, Richard’s mother said: "I’m angry and frustrated that my son lost his life through such violence. I wish every day I could have saved him. I wish that I knew the truth about the events that morning but I’m not sure I ever will.
“To sit in the court room for weeks seeing the men accused has been torture, knowing their actions have changed the lives of my children, my grandchildren, our extended family and mine forever is unbearable.
“I am very proud of my son, he was a blessing to all of the family and I will always miss him."
