[A] MURDERER who stabbed a popular Workington man through the heart has been jailed for life.
Calvin Patrickson, 22, twice plunged a 17cm-long blade with “considerable force” into defenceless Daniel McMullen on the morning of January 7. Patrickson’s crime, in the living room of 29-year-old Mr McMullen’s own Beech Court flat, was described as an “act of retribution”.
Carlisle Crown Court heard the killer had been assaulted shortly before by Mr McMullen, having knocked over candles the householder had in memory of his late mother.
Witnesses believed the pair had resolved their differences. But drink and drug-fuelled Patrickson told a friend in a text: “I am going to stab him, swear.”
He armed himself with a knife, left defenceless Mr McMullen fatally injured and then sneered: “Go on, what you gonna do now.”
Police interrogation of mobile phone data showed the offender sent text messages to a friend before the crime, intimating he would stab his victim. Afterwards he sent messages saying, “told u it would happen”, and, “dnt grass me up mate my head went am sorry bt a told yah pal.”
Patrickson was sentenced today (FRI) having previously admitted murder.
A hushed, packed courtroom heard that as Mr McMullen lay bleeding, he said: “He has killed me. Tell my brother I love him.”
The court heard Mr McMullen had two brothers, including an identical twin, Andrew.
In a victim impact statement, Andrew said he had been left “numb” by the killing. He stated: “I am living a nightmare, and all the support in the world does not make the pain go away.”
The court heard Patrickson, of Newlands Gardens, Workington, had 21 offences on his record, including a knife crime.
Judge Peter Davies imposed a life sentence, and ordered that the murderer should serve 18 years in prison before he is considered for parole.
Patrickson, wearing a blue tracksuit top and jogging bottoms in the dock, showed little emotion during a 65-minute hearing.
Judge Davies told him he had committed a “premeditated” crime in “cold blood”. “This was not a stabbing in the heat of the moment,” the judge concluded.
Temporary Detective Superintendent Lesley Hanson said: “Daniel died as a result of severe stab wounds – some which penetrated his chest by 16.5cm, and it was clear that his murder was premediated. Today Patrickson has been brought before the courts to answer for this terrible crime.
“This sentencing will never bring Daniel back to his family and loved ones, but I hope the result today will be the beginning of some form of closure. Our thoughts remain with them during this difficult time.”
Daniel’s brothers have issued the following statements:
Andrew McMullen said: “Daniel was the other half of me. He looked the same as me, he felt the same things as me, he thought the same as me. He was always there for me and I was always there for him. There was only Daniel who could ever understand me. We had a unique bond with each other and nothing will ever be able to compare to that. There is no other relationship like that of identical twins.
“Daniel and I lost our mam to cancer when we were only nine-years-old. Our dad and our older brother Steven brought us up. We lost our dad to cancer only last year and this hit both Daniel and I very hard. We supported each other. We made a promise that we would look after each other.
“I go and see Daniel every day. Daniel and I were the same person. I don’t know how to carry on my life without him.”
Steven McMullen said: “Daniel liked to make people laugh and would be the centre of attention whenever he could. He was a very popular person and couldn’t walk anywhere without bumping into someone he knew.
“I don’t think Andrew or I will ever come to terms with Daniel being taken away from us the way he was. Andrew and Daniel had a special relationship being identical twins. Andrew has lost the other half of him.
“Losing Daniel in these devastating circumstances has been the hardest thing that we`ve ever had to face. It was disgusting and totally unnecessary. Losing family through illness is hard, but losing your baby brother, at no age at all and with no chance of saying goodbye or telling him how much you loved him, is unbearable for me to deal with.
“My fiancée was pregnant with my first child when Daniel was killed. We now have a baby girl who will never get to meet her Uncle Daniel.
“I would like to thank the police for the way they have handled the case and the support they have provided to us throughout this difficult time. I would also like to thank everyone close to us for their love and support.”
Stuart Pattinson for the CPS said: “This is a tragic case of a night out with friends ending with devastating consequences.
“It was the prosecution case that following a disagreement, the two men made amends. However, soon afterwards Calvin Patrickson carried out a pre-meditated attack by arming himself with a knife from the kitchen which he used to stab Daniel multiple times.
“The CPS worked closely with the police to build a strong prosecution case, which left him with no other choice than to plead guilty to murder.
“We hope that today’s sentence offers the family and friends of Daniel McMullen a sense that justice has been served. Our thoughts are very much with them at this time.”