Murderer returned to pub with blood on his face after stabbing man to death

A murderer went back to the pub with blood on his face after stabbing a man to death.

William Cosier, 34, and Adam Pritchard, 35, exchanged punches soon after the latter had entered the Queens Head pub, in Boughton-under-Blean, around 10.30pm on March 13.

Pritchard left onto The Street after several more blows from Cosier, who also raised a stool over his head.

Cosier then followed Pritchard outside, hiding behind his back a 22cm knife he’d retrieved from the pub’s kitchen, despite the please of a staff member who tried to stop him.

Kent Police said: ‘At some point Mr Pritchard produced a BB gun which he fired in Cosier’s direction.

‘The pair ended up fighting in the road causing a minibus to swerve. Mr Pritchard again backed away followed by Cosier and they grappled again before Cosier returned to the pub with bloodstains on his top and face.’

Having sustained two stab wounds, Pritchard staggered back to the pub while Cosier fled in his white Mercedes.

Two people started driving him to hospital in a black Peugeot before flagging down an ambulance on the way.

Pritchard was declared dead on the scene. Police retrieved the BB gun from the boot of the car.

Cosier handed himself into the police the next day, and he was later charged with murder, a charge he denied.

He was found guilty of murder following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court on October 9, 2024.

Cosier, of Well Lane, Canterbury, was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison on Friday.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Lee Neiles said: ‘Today’s sentencing will not bring Adam back, but I hope it offers some form of justice to his family, who have been left devasted by the events of that fateful night.

‘Cosier armed himself with a deadly weapon and instead of walking away from an altercation he used it to inflict fatal injuries which led to the death of a man with a young family.

‘Cosier is a violent man who chose to arm himself in order to cause as much injury as possible, despite Adam seen backing away several times.

‘He denied the charges and caused the family to endure a trial where they were subjected to listening to the full details and I’d like to commend their courage and dignity in how they conducted themselves throughout this case.’

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