Police bodycam shows a murderer being arrested for stabbing a friend telling cops 'he ran into the knife' - later claiming it was a hug gone wrong.
Michael Beach, 46, denied the murder of 'family man' Scott Hopkins and instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter - claiming he stabbed him in the chest 'by accident'.
Following a week-long trial at Gloucester Crown Court jurors returned a unanimous verdict of guilty to the murder.
Yesterday he was sentenced to life in prison and told he would serve a minimum of 17 years.
The court heard police were called to a property on High Street in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, at 10.20pm on December 8, 2023 with a report that a man had been stabbed.
Police bodycam shows Michael Beach, 46, being arrested for stabbing a friend telling cops 'he ran into the knife'
Michael Beach (pictured) denied the murder of Scott Hopkins and instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Officers attended the address along with paramedics, but Scott died at the scene from his injuries.
During the trial, the court heard how the 'loving husband' had been drinking with Beach and another friend at a pub in Cinderford on the afternoon of the incident.
The group were said to be in high spirits.
When the trio returned to a flat on Cinderford High Street that evening to continue drinking, Scott followed Beach into the kitchen.
Beach claimed he had picked up a kitchen knife to chop up some cannabis when Scott came up behind him.
He told the court when giving evidence that he did not know Scott was in the kitchen and turned around, accidentally stabbing him in the chest.
He said he thought Scott had wanted to give him a hug but he pushed him out of the way to get past him.
The jury did not accept Beach's version of events and on June 7 they unanimously found him guilty of murder.
Speaking of the deliberate stabbing, the judge said that significant force must have been used.
The single knife wound extended 3.5 inches into Scott's body, piercing the lung and aorta. Despite the best efforts of emergency services he died at the scene.
Bodyworn video footage was shown to jurors which captured Beach admitting to both a police officer and a paramedic that he had stabbed Scott.
Officers attended along with paramedics, but Scott Hopkins (pictured) died at the scene from his injuries
Bodyworn video footage was shown to jurors which captured Beach admitting to both a police officer and a paramedic that he had stabbed Scott
Beach (pictured) told the court when giving evidence that he did not know Scott was in the kitchen and turned around, accidentally stabbing him in the chest
Following the sentencing, Scott's family released a statement, which said: '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.
'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.'
Speaking directly to Beach at sentencing, His Honour Judge Lambert said: 'The highly distressing nature of this case is accentuated by the fact that we simply do not know why you did what you did.
'It may be you do not know either. What we do know is there was absolutely no need for it.
'I detected a good deal of spineless avoidance by you, both before the trial, and at trial.
'The jury was sure that your account of pushing the deceased, with a knife in your hand, to get past him, when he was about to give you a hug, was another piece of avoidance.
'Scott was a family man and enjoyed a happy family life with his wife and their blended family of five.
'You bear the heaviest burden of responsibility for stealing a loving husband and father from his family.'
Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, added: 'Scott was a beloved husband, son, brother, father and friend and his death has had an unbearable impact on both his loved ones and the tight-knit community of Cinderford.
'Beach's senseless actions on that night have torn apart so many lives. Our thoughts remain with Scott's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.'
Following a week-long trial at Gloucester Crown Court (pictured) jurors returned a unanimous verdict of guilty to the murder
Richard Parkhouse, Senior Crown Prosecutor said: 'Last week a jury found Michael Beach guilty of murdering his friend Scott Hopkins.
'In firmly rejecting his explanation that wounding Scott was an accident that amounted to manslaughter the verdict highlights the consequence of using knives as weapons.
'Actions have consequences - for Michael Beach a life sentence of which he must serve a minimum time of 17 years in prison; for the family and friends of Scott Hopkins living without him and his life that was so needlessly taken.'
