Man jailed for more than 20 years for killing his boyfriend in a student flat in Newcastle

Aaron Ray, 21, attacked Jason Brockbank at Jason’s student accommodation on Howard Street, in Newcastle, during the early hours of September 24, 2022, following an argument.

Ray, of Mayfield Road in Sunderland, left the 24-year-old Northumbria University student with fatal wounds and returned home without informing the emergency services that Jason was injured.

Jason, who was originally from Whitehaven in Cumbria, was found three days later after his family reported him as missing due to not hearing from him for several days.

Officers traced Ray to his South Hylton home where he was arrested and later charged with murder, which he denied by claiming that he had acted in self-defence.

Following a seven-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court, a jury found Ray guilty on Tuesday, March 21.

The senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Inspector Tomasz Fowler, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a truly tragic case in which a popular young man lost his life and our thoughts very much remain with Jason’s heartbroken family, friends and loved ones.

“Jason was enjoying his life as a student in Newcastle and that was cruelly cut short by the actions of Aaron Ray, who was cold and calculating in fatally wounding Jason and then leaving the scene of the crime.

“There has been no evidence at all throughout this investigation to support Ray’s claim that Jason was violent or aggressive in any way and it was clear that his fellow students saw him as a friendly and sociable person.

“Thanks to the hard work of our officers, we were able to quickly identify Ray as the person responsible, apprehend him and get him before the courts. I’m pleased that he has now been given the conviction and sentence he deserves.

“I’d also like to thank Jason’s loved ones for their patience, co-operation and the dignity they have shown throughout the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.

“We hope that the outcome of the trial will help provide a degree of closure for them in seeing the person responsible for this heinous crime brought to justice.

“No-one wins when violence occurs and I hope what has taken place sends a clear message to anyone who believes that such actions are acceptable – the consequences are devastating and can rip not only yours but the lives of others apart.”

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