A man who was caught on CCTV dancing in celebration after beating his love rival to death has been jailed for life.
Gavin Casey, 31, attacked Christopher Messenger, 36, after he flew into a jealous rage when his ex-partner offered to make him a cup of tea.
After attacking his ex, Casey smashed Mr. Messenger with bottles and stamped on his face before dropping a TV on him.
Chilling CCTV showed Casey dancing maniacally while laughing and shouting: ‘I’ve killed him’, in a car park after the attack on 9 February.
Mr. Messenger was found by another resident who lived at the shared home in Highfield Road, Birmingham, and was rushed to hospital but died days later.
Hours after the attack, Casey bought drugs and threatened to jump from a gas tower in the Aston area of Birmingham.
Police bodycam footage showed him being arrested after a five-hour stand-off with cops. Further footage taken inside the police station showed him boasting about the attack.
I’m gonna plead guilty anyway. They’re gonna give me ten years on Monday and when I come out after doing my ten years, I’m gonna come out and I’m gonna kill the geezer anyway and do it properly. Simple.’
Three days later Mr. Messenger died of his injuries and Casey was charged with murder.
Casey was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years after he was found guilty of murder at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also found guilty of assaulting his ex-partner.
After the case, Detective Inspector Paul Joyce, from West Midlands CID, said:
‘This is a tragic case where a violent man flew into a jealous rage attacking and killing an innocent man. He beat Christopher Messenger, who died in hospital days later.
‘Mr. Messenger was recovering from injuries he had sustained in a recent collision and Casey, knowing that Mr. Messenger was at his most vulnerable, brutally attacked him. ‘Casey did not give a second thought to what he did, instead, he laughed about the despicable act he had just committed and left Mr. Messenger dying in his room.
In a statement, Mr. Messenger’s family said: ‘It has been extremely difficult to sit and listen to the full details of our Chris’s death, a son, brother, uncle, nephew who was taken too soon in a brutal unprovoked attack. Sitting watching a man show no remorse whatsoever for his actions. ‘Nothing will bring Chris back but we are glad that justice has been done. ‘We are very thankful to the police for their hard work and support and all involved in getting justice for Chris. ‘The witnesses who were brave enough to take the stand to help ensure that Gavin Casey was found guilty.’
