Brandon Byrne is in prison serving a life sentence after being convicted of the murder of James Cook, a 40-year-old father of three, in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Byrne was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years at Nottingham Crown Court on 1 May 2026, after stabbing Mr Cook twice and kicking him as he lay dying on the street following an argument in a pub.
Who Is Brandon Byrne?
Brandon Byrne, 23, is from Newark, Nottinghamshire. At the time of the murder he was 22 years old. He had no apparent prior connection to his victim, James Cook, beyond a chance encounter at a pub in Newark town centre on the evening of 30 April 2025. Despite the considerable evidence against him, Byrne pleaded not guilty to murder at trial, forcing a full jury trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
What Happened in Newark?
On the evening of Wednesday, 30 April 2025, Brandon Byrne and James Cook came into conflict at a pub in Newark town centre. An argument broke out between their respective groups while both were gathered around a pool table inside the pub. The situation escalated into a physical brawl, during which Byrne was headbutted and suffered a bite injury to his lip. Both men were ejected from the pub as a result.
Rather than leaving the matter there, Byrne armed himself with a knife and went looking for James Cook. CCTV footage captured Byrne walking slowly along Stodman Street in the town centre, knife in hand. He spotted Mr Cook nearby on Castlegate and gave chase, stabbing the 40-year-old twice and then kicking him in the head as he lay seriously injured on the ground. Despite the best efforts of paramedics who attended the scene, James Cook was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on 1 May 2025.
Body-worn video from officers who later detained Byrne captured him asking, “Did he die?” when confronted about the killing.
The Trial and Verdict
Brandon Byrne stood trial at Nottingham Crown Court and was found guilty of murder. The prosecution presented a strong body of evidence including CCTV footage showing Byrne with the knife before the attack, the body-worn video of his question to officers, and witness testimony about the events in and outside the pub. Byrne maintained his not guilty plea throughout the trial but the jury returned a guilty verdict.
The Sentence
On 1 May 2026, Byrne appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing. He received a mandatory life sentence for murder, as required by law for all adult murder convictions in England and Wales. The judge set a minimum term of 23 years, meaning Byrne must serve at least 23 years in prison — taking into account time already spent on remand — before he can even be considered for parole by the Parole Board. There is no guarantee of release at that point; the Parole Board would need to be satisfied that he no longer poses a risk to the public. To understand how the parole process works in the UK, visit our guide to the Parole Board.
The Victim: James Cook
James Cook was 40 years old at the time of his death. He was described by his widow as “the greatest dad” in her victim impact statement to the court. He was a father of three children. His killing was entirely unprovoked in the sense that he had not sought out the confrontation with Byrne after being ejected from the pub — it was Byrne who armed himself and went looking for Mr Cook. The Cook family have shown considerable dignity throughout the court proceedings.
If you have a family member affected by a crime or imprisoned as a result of a serious offence, our guides on booking a prison visit and sending money to a prisoner can help you stay in contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Brandon Byrne in prison?
Brandon Byrne is in prison because he was convicted of the murder of James Cook in Newark, Nottinghamshire. He stabbed Mr Cook twice and kicked him as he lay dying following a pub fight on 30 April 2025. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 23 years at Nottingham Crown Court on 1 May 2026.
How long is Brandon Byrne’s sentence?
Brandon Byrne received a mandatory life sentence for murder with a minimum term of 23 years. This means he cannot be considered for release by the Parole Board until he has served at least 23 years in prison. Release is not automatic at that point and depends on whether the Parole Board considers him safe to release.
Who did Brandon Byrne kill?
Brandon Byrne killed James Cook, a 40-year-old father of three from Newark, Nottinghamshire. Mr Cook was attacked on Castlegate in Newark town centre on the night of 30 April 2025 following an altercation at a local pub. He was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on 1 May 2025.
What evidence was used against Brandon Byrne at trial?
The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Byrne walking with a knife before the attack, body-worn video from police officers in which Byrne asked “did he die?” when detained, and witness testimony about the pub fight and subsequent events. Despite pleading not guilty, the jury found him guilty of murder.
Where is Brandon Byrne serving his sentence?
The specific prison where Brandon Byrne is held has not been publicly confirmed. Following conviction and sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court in May 2026, he would be allocated to a prison by the National Offender Management Service based on factors including his assessed risk level and available spaces in the prison estate.
