BREAKING: Killer who stabbed his partner, neighbour and dog on Christmas Day learns fate

A man who murdered his partner and neighbour and tried to kill a teenager in an unprovoked and “frenzied” attack after taking cocaine on Christmas Day has been jailed for life.

Jazwell Brown attacked his partner Joanne Pearson with a kitchen knife at their home in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, at around 6.30pm on December 25 last year. He stabbed her 31 times before turning on a teenage boy, with the youngster remarkably surviving his injuries. Brown went on to repeatedly stab Jo's dog Tilly, a Staffordshire bull terrier, who was later limping from the scene.

Brown then headed next door to another flat and began attacking Teohna Grant. He also stabbed Teohna's boyfriend 29-year-old Bradley Latter who survived, while Teohna was also pronounced dead at the scene. Police previously said the dog had died, but they have since been informed Tilly survived.

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At a brief hearing back in April the 49-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to the murder of 38-year-old Jo, 24-year-old Teohna, and two counts of attempted murder for Mr Latter and the teenager. He also pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a knife in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Today he was jailed for life for the two murders, and was told he will serve a minimum of 38 years and 194 days behind bars.

He was also sentenced to 18 years for attempting to kill the teenage boy, and 21 years for attempting to kill Mr Latter, both to run concurrently to the murder sentence.

He was sentenced to nine months in jail for injuring dog Tilly, and 18 months for possession of a knife, also to run concurrently.

Charles Miskin KC, defending, said Brown had shown remorse for his actions and was “profoundly sorry”.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the court: “The evidence suggests that the assaults were wholly unprovoked, committed by the defendant whilst he was under the influence of cocaine.”

The teenage boy called the police as he hid in the bathroom before Brown breached the room, holding the baseball bat. The lad told officers there had been no argument and nothing to justify the defendant’s actions, and that the attack was like “watching a horror film”, the prosecutor said.

Both women's families released a statement following today's sentencing. Joanne's family said: "Jo was a loving daughter, sister, mother, auntie, cousin, friend and neighbour. Her life was needlessly and cruelly cut short in horrendous circumstances on Christmas Day, in her own home at the hands of her partner. We will never be able to understand why.

"Jo experienced many good and happy times and achieved lots in her short life. These should not be overshadowed by the difficulties she experienced. Jo sometimes did not make the best decisions, but who of us can say we don’t get things wrong from time to time.

"Jo always cared for everyone around her, which was evident even in her last moments of her life. She was inseparable from her dog Tilly who she told us was her rock. We are sure Jo will be remembered with love and affection by all who knew her. There will certainly always be a huge Jo shaped hole in our lives."

Teohna's family said: "She had a huge heart full of love and kindness, she was such a kind and caring daughter and sister. Teohna is irreplaceable and she has left a huge void in our lives and in our hearts.

"As a family we are heartbroken to have lost her. The heartbreak is intensified by the realisation that we lost her due to the senseless, cruel actions of someone else. Our is emptier, full of sadness and holds a lot less laughter now that she has gone.

"Teohna deserved more time to live and deserved the chance to experience the good things life still had to offer her. The world is a darker place without Teohna's beautiful smile.

"We desperately wish that we could have made many more happy memories with Teohna, but all we can do now is cherish the past 24 years of treasured memories we made with Teohna when she was alive, which nobody can take from us.

"The pain will never go away, and there is no way of filling the void in our hearts. We know that Teohna would want us to live, not just survive.

"So for Teohna, we will somehow find the strength to do just that in memory of the most loved and cherished daughter and sister. Teohna we will miss you every day for the rest of our lives, and we will love you for just as long."

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin, of , said: "Today Jazwell Brown was given two life sentences for the murders of Teohna Grant and Jo Pearson. He was also sentenced for the attempted murder of Teohna’s partner Bradley, the attempted murder of a teenage boy, possession of a knife and the wounding of a dog.

"The events that unfolded on December 25, 2024 were truly horrific and tragic. We may never know what prompted Brown to behave the way he did. In his own home, he stabbed his partner Jo 31 times, before turning the knife and a baseball bat on a teenage boy. Brown also repeatedly stabbed Jo’s dog, Tilly, who survived despite her injuries.

"What remains even more incomprehensible is why Brown then left his home and tried the front door of a nearby flat, taking the knife and baseball bat with him.

"It was in this flat that he stabbed Teohna multiple times, causing fatal injuries. Teohna’s partner Bradley was also brutally attacked, sustaining more than 20 injuries to his neck alone. Somehow, Bradley survived.

"The scenes that responding emergency services faced that evening are indescribable. As a credit to their incredible bravery and dedication to protecting the public and saving lives, the outcome could have been even worse were it not for their decisive actions.

"The surviving victims and the families of Teohna and Jo have suffered enormously throughout this process. I would like to thank them for placing their trust in Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, allowing us the time and space to thoroughly investigate and bring Brown to justice.

Family members have described today’s sentencing as ‘part of the healing journey’. We know there is a long way to go but I hope that after today they can at least start that process."