Zephaniah McLeod killed Jacob Billington in his deadly attack in Birmingham in September 2020.
Image source, West Midlands Police
A killer who launched a deadly stabbing spree in Birmingham has been sentenced to at least 21 years.
Jacob Billington, 23, died and seven others were hurt in five separate incidents carried out in 90 minutes across the city on 6 September 2020.
Zephaniah McLeod, 29, previously admitted manslaughter and four counts of attempted murder.
Judge Justice Pepperall said he would be detained at Ashworth hospital for “as long as necessary”.
Afterwards, he said McLeod would see out the remainder of his term in prison.
The 29-year-old, of Nately Grove, Selly Oak, had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the apparently random attacks and was “well-known” to mental health services.
Mr Billington from Crosby, in Merseyside, was enjoying a night out in Birmingham when he was attacked.
His friend Michael Callaghan, 24, was left with life-changing injuries.
At Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Pepperall said McLeod had gone on a “murderous rampage” and left behind an “appalling catalogue of offending of the utmost gravity”.
The court heard how McLeod had armed himself with a knife on the night of the attack, getting a taxi home to pick up another, before returning to the city centre, part-way through his spree.
“Your victims were variously enjoying a night out or returning home from work,” said the judge.
“They gave you no offence and they were chosen at random. Wherever possible you aimed your knives at your victims’ necks.
“I have no doubt whatsoever you are a very dangerous man and pose a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm.”
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