Driver jailed for life for leaving dad-of-two in permanently ‘vegetative’ state after stabbing him through the heart in savage road rage attack
Judge brands attacker a 'very dangerous man'
A DRIVER has been jailed for life after stabbing a dad-of-two through the heart in a savage road rage attack, leaving him in a "vegetative" state.
Davern Pinnock attacked victim Jumaine Miller after he confronted him over his anti-social driving and demanded an apology.
Instead of saying sorry, Pinnock, 20, plunged a lock knife into his victim’s chest while other motorists watched on in horror.
Mr Miller bravely climbed back behind the wheel to drive himself to hospital – unaware he was close to death.
A court heard that at the time of the attack Pinnock had been released from prison on licence following a previous road rage attack, in which he beat a father and son with a baseball bat.
Mr Miller survived the attack but developed complications, which led to devastating brain injuries.
The 33-year-old is in a “vegetative, minimally conscious state” and his condition is unlikely to improve, Leeds Crown Court was told.
He and a pal had been driving their cars through Pudsey, between Bradford and Leeds, shortly before the tragedy on October 18 last year.
Mr Miller, from Bradford, was infuriated about the way Pinnock was driving and trailed him.
He demanded an apology but Pinnock sped off.
The dad-of-two caught up with him again at a roundabout and during a second confrontation was stabbed in the chest, back, and arm.
The court heard that his brain injuries mean he is totally dependent on others and barely able to communicate.
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In a victim impact statement his fiancée Leanne Cox said: “He was my world, my smile, my best friend, my security, my everything.”
A family statement from Mr Miller's sister added: “The combination of Pinnock’s lack of remorse, together with my brother’s poor life chances is something my family are struggling to come to terms with. To be honest, I am not sure we ever will.”
Pinnock, of Huddersfield, had denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily, claiming he had acted in self defence, but was convicted at a trial in May this year.
He has been jailed for life – to serve a minimum of eight years.
Judge Tom Bayliss told Pinnock: “You are a dangerous individual who will be prone to further episodes of unpredictable violence in the future.
“This was a deliberate, premeditated stabbing to a vulnerable part of the body and your victim suffered life-threatening injuries.
“I am quite satisfied, having observed you throughout the trial, that you have no remorse for what you did. You are in my judgement, a very dangerous man.”
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