Two Men Jailed For Killing Dad Of Four

9 May 2019, 17:34 | Updated: 10 May 2019, 05:54

A man has been jailed for life for killing a “loving father of four" during a brutal knife attack in Wolverhampton.

Richard Helm was attacked by Danny Cooper − a man he’d never met before − in Raven Crescent, Ashmore Park, on 12 October last year.

Hours earlier, 32-year-old Cooper, from Maytree Close in Chelmsley Wood, had assaulted Mr Helm’s sister and hurled bricks through the windows of her home in Adey Road.

And when her brothers went to find out what happened, Cooper stabbed 37-year-old Richard Helm in the chest; the knife pierced his heart and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cooper fled with his friend Ashley Wilson but was arrested by West Midlands Police in Chelmsley Wood on 21 October after going on the run, while Wilson, from Guernsey Drive in Solihull, had already handed himself in to police.

Cooper denied murder but was found guilty following a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court − and today (9 May) he was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 24 years behind bars. Wilson was convicted of manslaughter for his involvement, and jailed for eight years.

Senior investigating officer Jim Colclough said: “Cooper spent the night drinking with Wilson and got himself involved in a dispute that was nothing to do with him. Cooper was in a rage and assaulted Ms Helm and another woman for no apparent reason. On receipt of this news Mr Helm has chosen to seek out those who were responsible, and this ultimately led to his shocking murder.

“This was a merciless attack and one made all the more senseless because Cooper had never even set eyes on Mr Helm before. 

“Cooper’s actions that morning resulted in a tragic waste of a life and our thoughts remain firmly with Richard’s family. Although their lives have been devastated I hope today’s sentence can give them some comfort, knowing the men responsible have been jailed."