Man Jailed For Murdering Nephew

A man's been jailed for murdering his teenage nephew after an argument over a mobile phone in Tyne and Wear.

Alan Cooper stabbed 14-year-old Jordan in front of his grandmother - the killer's mother, Susan Smith.

The three were living together at her home in Newriggs, Washington.

After a five-day trial, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of murder by a majority last week.

He had admitted killing Jordan but claimed he had suffered an abnormality of mind which diminished his responsibility. The jury heard Cooper had a history of violence towards family members when drunk.

Jailing him for life, Judge John Milford said Cooper was a ``highly dangerous'' man. He was ordered to serve at least 22 years before being considered for parole.

The court heard that he and his nephew had bickered after the teenager used his uncle's phone to contact a girlfriend on Facebook. Cooper had teased Jordan that he would contact the girl later, and an argument ensued.

Mrs Smith defused the row and her grandson watched television with her in her room. As they sat in the dark, her son burst in and attacked Jordan.

The onslaught carried on outside her room and she dialled 999, saying: ``My son is killing my grandson.'' As paramedics arrived to treat him, the fatally-wounded boy said: ``I'm going to die, aren't I?''

Mrs Smith said: ``We have suffered an unbearable loss. I cannot adequately describe the gaping hole his death has left in our lives or the despair that we feel.''