The killer said the victim was accidentally stabbed in an embrace gone wrong

A murderer who claimed his friend died in a ‘hug gone wrong’ has been convicted. Michael Beach denied murdering Scott Hopkins in Cinderford, Gloucestershire last December, instead pleading guilty to manslaughter and claiming Scott “came across the knife”, but was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury at Gloucester Crown Court.

The court heard that police officers were called to a property on the town’s High Street at 10.20pm on Friday, December 8, following reports that a man had been stabbed. Officers and paramedics attended, but Scott died of his injuries at the scene.

During the trial, the court heard how Scott had been drinking with Beach and another friend at a pub in Cinderford on the afternoon of the incident and was said to be in a high spirits. The trio returned to a flat on Cinderford High Street that evening to continue drinking and Scott followed Beach into the kitchen.

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Beach claimed he was grabbing a kitchen knife to cut some cannabis when Scott came up behind him. While giving evidence, Beach told the court he didn’t know Scott was there and turned and accidentally stabbed him in the chest. He claimed he thought Scott wanted to hug him but pushed him out of the way to get past him.

The jury did not accept Beach’s version of events and found him guilty of murder. The judge said significant force must have been used in the deliberate stabbing.

The single knife wound extended 9cm into Scott’s body, piercing his lung and aorta, and despite the best efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene. Beach was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 17 years.

Scott’s family released a statement after Beach’s sentencing hearing. They said: “As a family, we want everyone to know that Scott has a heart as big as he does.

“He will be forever missed, forever loved and constantly remembered. Nothing will ever bring Scott back, but this result brings peace to us all.

“We also want to thank everyone in the investigation who has helped us since the beginning. Every single person has worked so hard to support us and get us to this point. As a family, this is the last thing we have, I mean, because the families on both sides of this case have young children who now have to move on with lives that have been changed forever.”

Sentencing Beach, Judge Lambert said: “The extremely distressing nature of this case is accentuated by the fact that we simply do not know why you did what you did. You might not even know. What we do know is that there was absolutely no need for it.

“I detected a good measure of avoidance on your part, both before and during the trial. The jury was sure that your account of pushing the deceased, knife in hand, past him when he was about to give a hug was another piece of avoidance.

“Scott was a family man and enjoyed a happy family life with his wife and their blended family of five. You bear the heaviest burden of responsibility for stealing a loving husband and father from his family.”

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, from the Major Crime Squad, added: “Scott was a beloved husband, son, brother, father and friend and his death has had an unbearable impact on both his loved ones, as well as on the united ones. Cinderford community.

“The senseless actions of the beach that night tore apart so many lives. Our thoughts remain with Scott’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Richard Parkhourse, senior Crown prosecutor, said: “Last week, a jury found Michael Beach guilty of murdering his friend Scott Hopkins. Strongly rejecting his explanation that Scott’s injury was an accident amounting to manslaughter, the verdict highlights the consequences of using knives as weapons.

“Actions have consequences – for Michael Beach a life sentence of which he must serve a minimum term of 17 years in prison; for the family and friends of Scott Hopkins who are living without him and his life that was taken so needlessly.”