Connor Lyons: ‘Bully killed boy, 17, to get away with robbery’
LIFE WITH A MINIMUM OF 25 YEARS: Cole Jarvis
By Simon Bristow
A man who murdered a teenage boy in a futile attempt to avoid being caught for robbing him has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years.
Cole Jarvis lured 17-year-old Connor Lyons to a remote part of Hull on the “pretence” of going lamping for rabbits, but his real intention was to rob him, Hull Crown Court heard.
He then strangled Connor, held him under water in the River Hull, and left him for dead before trying to sell the “distinctive” bicycle he had just stolen from the youngster, having also stolen an £800 bracelet and his mobile phone.
Connor’s body was found on the banks of the river off Thomas Clarkson Way on January 18.
Jarvis, 22, of Stroud Crescent West, Bransholme, denied any involvement in the killing and has refused to give any account of his actions that night, but was found guilty of murder after a trial at the same court last month.
He was today jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 25 years.
Before Jarvis was sentenced this afternoon, the court heard harrowing victim impact statements from his parents, read by prosecutor Jason Pitter QC. Both parents were present in the packed public gallery.
Connor’s father, Lee Murray, said: “Connor was a great kid. He was cheeky and funny. He would come out with all sorts of mad stuff that would make you laugh; he would joke about everything, such as my hair.
“At the same time, though, he was always kind and thoughtful.”
Connor had been planning to enrol at college to study plumbing, his father said, adding: “I have no doubt had his life not been taken away from him he would have gone on to make something of his life.”
‘CARING, THOUGHTFUL AND ABOUT TO MAKE SOMETHING OF HIS LIFE’: Connor Lyons
Mr Murray said his life had been “destroyed” by Connor’s murder, and said: “I think back to how he died and where he was found and I really struggle with this.”
He said he felt “cheated” that Jarvis refused to give an account of what happened.
Both Mr Murray, and Connor’s mother, Kelly Lyons, said they now tried to avoid the area around Thomas Clarkson Way where their son’s body was found.
His mother, who had to identify his body in a morgue, said: “My life and that of my children and wider family will never be the same.”
She added “I feel like I can never begin to live without him. We are in a living hell with no answers and no reasons - only one man does.”
Hull’s most senior judge, John Thackray QC, Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, said the victim statements “describe better than I ever could the devastating impact and brutal circumstances of the death of Connor Lyons, who was only 17 years of age.
“He was a young man with everything to live for and he was making plans for the future.”
The judge told Jarvis: “He had a dog which he loved and which he took everywhere with him. That was the very same dog that initially followed you from the scene of the killing, and which you left wandering the streets after you had killed Connor Lyons.
“His friends described how Connor Lyons did not have a problem with anyone, apart from you.”
‘ENJOYED MAKING HIS LIFE A MISERY’: Cole Jarvis
Although the two could loosely be described as “friends” or “associates” and would often go lamping together, the killing took place against a background of bullying and violence against Connor by the older Jarvis, who was 21 at the time.
A friend of Connor’s said Jarvis used to kick Connor and slap his face.
The judge told Jarvis: “Connor Lyons described to him how you did that every day, and I have no doubt you were enjoying making his life a misery. Despite that, Connor Lyons spent time with you, no doubt because you were an older male and on some occasions you were nice to him.”
Judge Thackray said he did not accept submissions from both the prosecution and defence that the starting point when considering the minimum term of imprisonment should be 15 years. The starting point should be 30 years, the judge said.
He told Jarvis: “I do not accept the submissions of the prosecution case as to the basis on which I should sentence.
“The prosecution say there was no prior planning, and that the murder was not motivated by gain, and that would give the starting point of 15 years.
“I have given advance notice to your counsel [Richard Wright QC] I do not readily accept the submissions of the prosecution about that, and accordingly I have received written submissions from your counsel setting out why I should accept the prosecution submissions.
“I can say at the outset I have not the slightest doubt that before you set out that evening you planned to rob Connor Lyons of his mobile phone, his expensive bracelet, and his bicycle.
“At the scene of the robbery, if not earlier, you then formed the intention to kill Connor Lyons in order to avoid detection.”
The judge said it was significant Jarvis had not taking his own dog with him, and told him: “I can’t be certain you intended to kill him before you got to the scene, but having taken his property, including an £800 bracelet, you realised on this occasion unless you took his life you could not avoid detection for the robbery.”
The judge said Connor had been strangled with a ligature and held down in the water. The cause of death was drowning.
The minimum term Jarvis must serve before he can be considered for parole was set at 25 years, less the 292 days he has spent in custody.
Jarvis, who sat open-mouthed through most of the hearing, had a “slightly Walter Mitty element of his personality”, according to a statement given by his partner, the court heard.