A SERIAL robber who prowled the streets of Manchester targeting students left a victim to bleed to death after plunging a knife into his leg.
Keith Roy Erskine pounced on 24-year-old David Brown, a student at Manchester's Metropolitan University, as the youngster arrived home after a night out.
Erskine fled with just a few pounds as Mr Brown lay bleeding in his front garden.
Manchester crown court heard how Erskine struck after spotting his victim walking through Hulme one night last September. Just 20 minutes earlier, the 41-year-old had mugged another student, jabbing him in the thigh with a knife and taking his mobile phone.
CCTV showed Mr Brown walking past Hulme library with Erskine - of Osprey Court, Stretford - following.
As Mr Brown got to his home on Chorlton Road, Erskine attacked him and left him in the garden after stabbing him in the leg. The wound severed a major artery and Mr Brown bled to death.
Robbery
Erskine eventually called the emergency services some time later, using a fake Irish accent. An ambulance went to the scene but could not find Mr Brown, whose body was hidden by a wall.
Erskine was jailed for life after being convicted of murder and robbery.
The court heard he had a catalogue of previous convictions, including a knife-point robbery of two other Manchester students in 1995.
Judge Anthony Gee, ordering that Erskine should serve at least 25 years, told him: "I regard you as being a dangerous, violent criminal from whom the public requires protection for a very long time." Erskine, who robbed to fuel a heroin and crack cocaine addiction, stormed out of the dock and refused to listen as the judge added: "You had set out with the intention of finding and robbing lone students out in central Manchester.
"You knew they would be soft targets for someone as powerful as you. David Brown had his life before him and was described as someone who would never seek confrontation or harm a fly and his death has devastated his family."
Detective Superintendent Peter Jackson said Mr Brown, who had dreamt of moving to Spain after completing his university course, had had the `tragic misfortune' of crossing Erskine's path as he prowled round looking for victims.
Mr Brown's mother, Sylvia Watson, paid tribute to her son as `kind, honest, hardworking and gentle'.
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Showing comments 1 to 11 and replies | View All
Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton (20/12/2008 at 10:01)
The Man Down Town, come rain or shine, Somewhere (20/12/2008 at 11:12)
steve grimsley, Macclesfield (20/12/2008 at 13:49)
People who carry knives will eventually use them so make the first offence their last one and jail them for life.
It is so frustrating reading the same theme every day.
Guten Tag, Manchester (20/12/2008 at 14:47)
walksyo, droylsden (20/12/2008 at 14:48)
Donald, manchester (20/12/2008 at 16:05)
lizard (20/12/2008 at 16:58)
Billy Banjo Adams, Burnage (20/12/2008 at 17:52)
Peter of Manchester, Los Angeles (20/12/2008 at 19:01)
Let the people,who are the ones threatened by these low lifes, vote on a referendum about this, not the pc politicians, who will never be in a life threateneing position as they live such cossetted lives. Come on Labour Party truly be a party of the people and defend us all.
bootty (20/12/2008 at 21:54)
PW, Manchester (21/12/2008 at 13:34)
Compassion for these types is a waste. All of it should go to the victims and families. He should swing for what he did. That is a 100% effective solution, and saves a lot of valuable resources. I believe people will get so sick of this type of thing that the MPs will have no choice but to reconsider the death penalty position. Bleeding hearts - save your comments.