Man jailed for murdering his brother in the street in Blyth

A man who killed his brother following an assault in Blyth has been handed a life sentence.

Police were called to the Duke’s Gardens area of the town in the early hours of August 2 last year and found Gary Wilkie, 46, with a serious stab wound to his leg.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics but sadly died a short time later.

Gary’s brother – James Rutherford, 35 – was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder and possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place.

In November last year, Rutherford, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to both offences at Newcastle Crown Court.

He returned to the same court yesterday (Tuesday) and was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years in jail.

Following the hearing, Gary’s family said in a statement:

“We are totally devastated about what has happened.

“This has been a very distressing time, and we would appreciate it if our privacy could be respected.”

Detective Chief Inspector David Johnson, of Northumbria Police, led the investigation into Gary’s death.

He said:

“The last six months have been incredibly difficult for Gary’s family and our thoughts remain with them. We will continue to offer them any support they need.

“This is another tragic case that highlights the irreversible and devastating consequences of carrying a knife and I hope it sends out a strong message to all our communities.

“I would like to thank the victim’s family and the wider community for their support and cooperation throughout this investigation, as well as a team of detectives who worked diligently to pull together a strong prosecution case.

“It was imperative that Rutherford had his day in court and we will continue to pursue perpetrators of knife crime and ensure they are brought to justice.”

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