Killer who stabbed friend told police he ‘ran into knife’ in a ‘hug gone wrong’

A man has been jailed for 17 years after stabbing a friend after he told police he walked into the knife in a hug gone wrong.

Michael Beach, 46, stabbed Scott Hopkins, 36, to death at a flat in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, on December 8 last year.

Gloucester Crown Court heard Mr Hopkins and another friend had been drinking with Beach when he picked up a knife at the flat following an afternoon of drinking at a pub.

Beach said he picked up the knife to chop up some cannabis, turned around and was not aware Mr Hopkins was behind him and accidentally stabbed him in the chest.

He said he thought Mr Hopkins wanted to give him a hug but he pushed him out of the way to get past him.

The jury did not accept this and took just four hours and 18 minutes on Friday to find Beach guilty of murder.

The judge said significant force must have been used in the deliberate stabbing.

Mr Hopkins’ family said after sentencing: ‘As a family we would like everyone to know Scott had a heart as big as him. At 6ft 1ins his character was as big and bold as he was.

Scott Hopkins who was murdered by Beach (Picture: Avon and Somerset Police/SWNS)

‘He will be eternally missed, forever loved and consistently remembered. Nothing will ever bring Scott back, but this result goes some small way to bringing peace to us all.

‘We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone from the investigation who have helped us since the start.

‘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 want to say, as the families on both sides of this case have young children who have to now move on with lives that have changed forever.’

The judge told Beach he had ‘cruelly robbed’ Mr Hopkins’ family of him.

‘The highly distressing nature of this case is accentuated by the fact that we simply do not know why you did what you did,’ he said.

Beach was jailed for a minimum of 17 years (Picture: Avon and Somerset Police/SWNS)

‘It may be you do not know either, what we do know is that there was absolutely no need for it.

‘[Hopkins] was a joker and is described as the life and soul, he brought so much happiness and joy to family life.

‘His death has caused emotional and financial devastation for the family.’

Michael Beach was given a life sentence of which he must serve a minimum time of 17 years in prison.

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