Leeds road rage murderer who stabbed young dad through heart is jailed for life

Davern Pinnock used a lock knife to stab Jumaine Miller three times in the attack near Owlcotes roundabout, Pudsey, after an incident on Leeds Bradford Road on October 18 2015.

Mr Miller underwent emergency surgery, but developed problems which led to him suffering devastating brain injuries due to lack of oxygen.

Leeds Crown Court head Mr Miller was incapable of looking after himself and had no awareness of himself or his surroundings.

Pinnock denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a bladed article, but was convicted of both offences by a Leeds Crown Court jury after a trial in May 2016.

In October 2016, Pinnock was jailed for life and told he would serve a minimum term of eight years in prison.

Leeds Crown Court heard today (May 21 2021) that a doctor concluded in November 2018 that Mr Miller was in a vegetative state and that there was no prospect of his condition improving.

Mr Miller's treatment was withdrawn and he was given palliative care until his death aged 38 on January 21 2019.

Pinnock, 25, admitted murder when the charge was put to him today.

Judge Tom Bayliss QC handed Pinnock a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years and two months.

Pinnock has already been in prison for five years and seven months so the minimum term he will serve is 14 years and seven months.

Referring to a previous victim impact statement, Judge Bayliss said: "Lianne Cox, his partner and fiancé in her statement, describes Jumaine Miller as 'my world, my smile, my best friend, my security, my everything.'

"They were due to get married. All that changed in October 2015 - for what remained of his life Jumaine Miller was unable to communicate with her, and unable to interact with his two young sons in any way."

Mr Miller and his friend had been driving their cars along Leeds and Bradford Road through Pudsey shortly before the attack on October 18 2015.

Mr Miller, from Bradford, became angry at the way Pinnock was driving and followed him.

A trial heard how the two men initially confronted each other and Mr Miller demanded an apology before Pinnock drove off.

Pinnock, who had a female passenger with him at the time, stopped a short time later.

There was another confrontation between them close to the Owlcotes roundabout when Pinnock stabbed Mr Miller in the chest, back and arm before leaving the scene.

Pinnock, of Jade Place, Huddersfield, claimed during his trial that he had acted in self defence as he feared Mr Miller was going to attack him.

Edward Moss, mitigating for Pinnock, said his client has said: "I know my actions that night have devastated a whole family and I would like them to know I'm sorry."

Mr Parsons said Pinnock is ashamed of what he did and wants to raise awareness of the impact of knife crime when he is released from prison.

At the time of the stabbing Pinnock was out of prison on licence over another road rage attack in which he used a baseball bat to attack a father and son.

On October 20 2014, Pinnock admitted two charges of assault committed on November 22 2013.

Pinnock was a passenger in a Renault Clio which ' cut up' another car driven by a father with his son as passenger on Huddersfield Ring Road.

The other vehicle sounded its horn, and when it pulled over Pinnock attacked the father and son and damaged their vehicle.

Pinnock was previously sentenced to 16 months in a young offender institution for that offence.