Newcastle killer who brutally murdered his former friend 'for unknown reason' jailed for life

Tragic Michael Craig, 31, was beaten, attacked with a hoover pole, clock , mug and fork and suffered more than 30 stab injuries inside Craig Howse's one bedroom flat at Bolingbroke Street, Heaton, Newcastle, in March.

He was taken to hospital where he died a short time later.

Howse, 38, denied murder but was convicted by a jury after a trial.

At Newcastle Crown Court today Judge Edward Bindloss said Howse must serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

Judge Bindloss said: "The doctor found 91 separate sites of injury to Michael's body, injuries predominantly to his face and neck but also his arm, back and buttocks. They were both from blunt force injuries and incised wounds."

The judge added: "You used six weapons, all readily available to you, to inflict these injuries."

The court heard a hoover pipe had been used to repeatedly strike Michael and it was also pushed up his bottom.

Howse also used a knife which broke from the handle, a knife which ended up bend out of shape a mug, a clock and a fork during the killing.

Judge Bindloss said the attack lasted around 55 minutes and the "gratuitous and prolonged" violence started for "an unknown reason".

Michael's grieving family made statements on the impact his loss has had on the devastated family.

His sister Kathryn Craig said "To lose a loved one at any time is difficult but the added factors of Mchael's age and the circumstances surrounding his death compounded the distress and emotions far more than we can explain."

Prosecutor Simon Kealey KC told jurors at the start of the trial that the reason for the killing was unclear but added that investigations revealed that intimate injuries on the victim's body, together with the presence of a Kinder egg could suggest there had been a fall out over drugs.

Mr Kealey said as well as the fractures, slashes and stab wounds, Mr Craig's anus was also injured and added that his death could have been over "some form of drugs dispute".

The court heard both men had had problems with drugs and Mr Kealey said: "At the scene there was a Kinder egg and that is often used to store drugs and discreet them about the body, including the anus and forceful retrieval of drugs from the anus is a potential cause of the injuries to that part of the body."

Mr Kealey KC said it was on March 5 emergency services were called to Howse's flat and the badly injured man was found.

Mr Kealey said: "Mr Craig had been subject to a sustained and brutal assault. He was heavily beaten about his head and his body, with both fists and blunt object such as a hoover pole which caused fractures and multiple facial bruises.

"He suffered over 30 stab and slash injuries to his head and his face, which were inflicted with more than one weapon such as a knife or other sharp bladed weapon. That led to significant blood loss.

"His hands had both bruising and cuts or slashes where he had tried to defend himself."

During questioning Howse claimed Mr Craig had been heavily intoxicated from drugs, started slashing himself then attacked him.

The court heard after the violence, Howse called his mother "screaming and shouting".

Mr Kealey told jurors: "He said something had happened, that Michael was there and that he, Craig Howse, had stabbed him and there was blood all over."

The court heard the worried mother travelled to the scene and Mr Kealey added: "She was greeted by her son, who was covered in blood.

"The defendant said Mr Craig had called him a baby killer and a nonce and was swinging a knife in his direction.

"He said to his mother he had picked up a hoover attachment and, in his words, had brayed him with it and said he had stabbed him somewhere but didn't know where and said 'I'm not letting him attack me' and 'what am I meant to do'."

Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said Howse is now drug free and added: "He knows he has taken the life of another person, someone with whom he was on friendly terms. That will never leave."

Following today’s sentencing hearing, Detective Sergeant Steven Gibson, of the Force’s major investigation team, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Michael’s family and friends following this tragic incident.

“I hope they are able to take further closure in knowing Michael’s killer has been jailed for a substantial amount of time.

“Michael’s life was cruelly taken away by Howse’s senseless actions that day.

“We welcome the sentence that has been handed to a violent and dangerous offender.”