The man who murdered John Parker when he thrust a knife into his neck in a St Ann’s street has been jailed for life today.
His Honour Judge Rafferty QC gave Jones a prison sentence of life, with a recommendation that he serve at least 21 years and 174 days before being considered for parole.
Jonathan Jones, 39, was convicted of the killing at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday when a jury returned a guilty verdict.
The court had earlier heard how Jones thrust a 6cm-long knife into Mr Parker’s neck after a row.
It happened as Mr Parker walked through St Ann’s with his girlfriend at around 4.00pm on May 31.
Despite attempts by paramedics to save 43-year-old, he died less than two hours later at the Queen’s Medical Centre.
Following the attack, Jones burst into the home of a local woman and threatened her with the knife. He forced her to clean it before wrapping it in plastic bags and demanding that she dispose of the weapon in a drain.
He also got her to hide his coat, fearing it could incriminate him.
Officers arrested Jones at around 9pm on the the same day at his home in Barbury Drive, Clifton. He denied the allegation of murder and attempted to blame another man throughout police questioning.
Picture: Mr Parker was stabbed in Hedderley Walk, St Ann’s
The other man was arrested, but later released when the evidence against Jones became ever more conclusive.
During the eight-day trial, the jury was told that Jones and Mr Parker had had a confrontation in Nottingham city centre half an hour before the stabbing took place.
Jones was one of a group of four people to approach Mr Parker as he waited outside the Burger King restaurant on Upper Parliament Street, opposite the Victoria Centre.
Jones was seen by witnesses to punch Mr Parker in the face before walking off.
Thirty minutes later, their paths crossed again in Hedderley Walk, St Ann’s.
Jones had just left a nearby shop when he caught sight of Mr Parker and his partner. He walked directly over and thrust the knife into his neck. Mr Parker then bled to death.
Det Chief Insp Leigh Sanders, of Notts Police, said: “Jonathan Jones was absolutely pitiless in the way he killed John Parker and then attempted to cover his tracks by coercing a friend to dispose of the weapon.
“Following his arrest, he continued to try and evade prosecution by blaming the killing on another person within his circle of friends.
“It is due to the courage of local people within St Ann’s and the wider community that the case against him became much clearer and I’d like to acknowledge the contribution they made to the evidence gathering process, which was vital to ensure that Jones was clearly identified as the murderer.”
“Jones is clearly a dangerous and aggressive individual, but also a deceitful coward who was prepared to bully and betray his own friends in order to try and cover his own crime.”
