20 years behind bars for man who murdered teenager in Camberley

A man is facing a minimum of 20 years behind bars after murdering a teenager following what appeared to have been a minor feud between separate groups of young people from neighbouring towns.

A man is facing a minimum of 20 years behind bars after murdering a teenager following what appeared to have been a minor feud between separate groups of young people from neighbouring towns.

Jonathan Cox, 18 (DOB 1/10/2004), was found guilty of the murder of 17-year-old Kyle Wright after confronting him and fatally stabbing him in the chest outside a house party in Camberley on 27 May 2022.

He was sentenced today (24 February), at Guildford Crown Court.

In a statement read out in court written by Kyle’s mother Valerie, she spoke of how she would always be “haunted by the anguish of Kyle’s murder and the questions that remain unanswered”.

It continued: “It never crossed my mind that I would have to bury my son. I will never have the opportunity to hold him in my arms, tell him I love him, watch him graduate, see him walk up the aisle, and succeed in life. Jonathan Cox cruelly thought he had the right to take all of this away from Kyle. The thought that I will never see Kyle blossom into adulthood, fills my heart with deep sadness.

“My wish is that no other family has to experience the unparalleled grief that we are currently suffering. Our family has really appreciated the support of Surrey Police at this difficult time.”

During the trial, the court heard how officers pieced together CCTV footage to show Cox’s movements on the night of the murder, which took place in Green Hill Road, close to the junction with Copped Hall Drive.

The footage showed Cox leaving his home address and cycling to the scene and then walking to Green Hill Road. He then confronted Kyle and his friends who were in the road outside a house party. Moments before 10.50pm, Cox attacked Kyle, fatally stabbing him in the chest. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Kyle was sadly pronounced dead at the scene shortly after he was attacked.

Cox was identified through CCTV footage cycling away from the scene where he made his way towards Camberley town centre before returning to his home address a short distance away.

CCTV footage also showed Cox coming and going from his home address a short time after the murder and then subsequently numerous times the following day. The prosecution told the court that this was when he disposed of his clothing and his mobile phone, as well as the bike he had used to cycle to the scene and the knife he had used to stab Kyle. Despite extensive police searches across a vast area, none of the property has ever been found.

Phone cell analysis of Cox’s phone revealed that it had been used in the vicinity of the murder. Various messages were also found on his phone, including one in which he said he had “stashed everything in the forest”, and that he was “so paranoid as he didn’t want to go to prison”. Cox had also requested help to “burn everything in the forest”.      

On sentencing Cox, the judge said the 18-year-old had an “unhealthy preoccupation with knives and the damage they inflict”. He continued, Cox is “a very dangerous person” who “told the jury a pack of lies” about what had happened.

The judge paid tribute to two of Kyle’s friends who had done their absolute best to try to save Kyle’s life following the attack. They were given High Sheriff awards for their bravery. The judge also commended the police investigation team on a case that was “challenging from the outset”.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Simon Dunn from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “First and foremost I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Kyle Wright. No one should ever have to endure the loss they have suffered.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the way they have handled themselves throughout the investigation and subsequent court process, and the bravery and dignity they have demonstrated.

“Cox’s motive for targeting Kyle appears to have come from a minor feud between separate groups of young people from neighbouring towns. Cox went to the scene armed with a knife that night with the intention of causing him serious harm. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the tragic and senseless death of a teenage boy with his whole life ahead of him.”

DI Dunn also paid tribute to the investigation team, who worked “tirelessly” to find the person responsible for Kyle’s death.

“This included going through hours of CCTV footage, obtaining witness accounts in difficult circumstances, including the fact that many of the witnesses were children, and ploughing through mobile phone analysis to find the evidence. This painstaking work was pivotal in securing the guilty verdict and ensuring Cox is behind bars where he belongs.”

DI Dunn also praised the friends of Kyle who had tried to save his life on the night of his death, as well as the officers who arrived at the scene before paramedics and administered first aid.

He said: “Their bravery, despite witnessing such a brutal attack, in rushing to Kyle’s aid without a moment’s thought must be commended. The memories of that night will have had a significant impact on them which will last for a very long time.”

DI Dunn continued: “Kyle’s death also caused considerable concern and distress within the local community as well as local schools and colleges. Our local neighbourhood teams work closely with our partner agencies to educate young people about the risks of carrying a knife and to prevent these crimes from happening.

“Young people, especially teenagers, need to feel safe and it needs to be reinforced at every level that carrying knives isn’t the answer to the issues they are facing.”

Since Kyle’s death, the Surrey Heath neighbourhood team has worked with the Force’s Youth Engagement Officers (YEOs), in continuing to target and support various individuals, which has led to further arrests for violence and weapon possession, as well as carrying out proactive work, including weapon sweeps, targeted Crimestoppers adverts, and community engagement stands focused on safety alongside their colleagues from Hampshire Constabulary (Kyle lived in Aldershot and was a student at Farnborough College of Technology).

The Surrey Heath team also worked alongside the Force’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team to link in with partner agencies, including both Surrey and Hampshire County Councils, as well as local schools and colleges. A partnership meeting was held to brief all affected education settings, which ensured that every child across Surrey and Hampshire was able to access the appropriate support.  The team maintained contact with these partners throughout the investigation and subsequent trial.

Understanding the trauma caused by Adverse Childhood experiences (ACEs) enables us a community to come together in partnership to promote safety and support.

Young people can report information about crime 100% anonymously by getting in touch with Fearless, the dedicated youth service from the charity Crimestoppers, by clicking here https://www.fearless.org/ or calling 0800 555 111.