Man guilty over fatal stabbing of father of three

A man has been found guilty of murdering a 40-year-old father of three after a fight in a pub in Nottinghamshire.

Brandon Byrne, 23, of Winston Court, Newark, stabbed James Cook on 1 May 2025 on Castlegate, Newark.

The pair had got into an argument in the Loose Cannon pub, and despite being separated by staff and leaving by different exits, Byrne produced a knife and chased down and attacked Cook.

Byrne, who had pleaded not guilty on the grounds of self-defence, is due to be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

The trial, which began on 13 April, heard Cook and his brother were drinking in pubs around Newark, and went to the Loose Cannon in Stodman Street shortly after 22:30 BST.

The jury was told Byrne went out after an argument with his partner and arrived at the same pub at about 23:20.

Shortly afterwards, Cook was told to get off a pool table by a member of staff and when Byrne intervened, he was headbutted and bitten on the face.

Byrne was then escorted through the kitchen exit, while Cook left through the front on to Stodman Street.

Police said Byrne then went looking for Cook, and having caught up with him, proceeded to stab him and then kick him in the head.

Byrne stabbed him again as he lay injured on the ground, before walking away, officers said.

Cook was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight.

Byrne pleaded guilty to the separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon in public.

Det Cons Kimberley Priestley said after the verdict that it was a "shocking and senseless attack, which sent "shockwaves across Newark".

"Having fought with Mr Cook in a pub only minutes earlier – and been injured in the process – Byrne armed himself and went looking for retribution.

"What followed was a disgraceful display of violence, with Byrne chasing his victim down and killing him, having stabbed him not once, but twice," she said.

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