Samson Price jailed for trying to kill Patrick Brown in ‘eye for eye’ machete attack after blaming him for son’s death

A GRIEVING dad has been jailed for 33 years after he tried to kill a man he blamed for his son's death in an "eye for an eye" attack.

Samson Price, 48, left Patrick Brown "millimetres from death" as he hacked at him with a machete outside a gym in Northwich, Cheshire.

Price had blamed Brown for the death of his son Samson Price Jr, 18, who was found dead in a pond in Wigan in October 2020.

Fuelled by revenge, the dad launched into a frenzied attack on Brown.

Price has now been jailed for 33 years after being found guilty of attempted murder.

Price's wife, Rosanna rushed out of the public gallery after hearing the sentence and said: "It's a joke, it's not justice."

Chester Crown Court was told the dad bought a 16-inch machete and electronic tracking device to locate Brown.

In September 2021, he lay in wait outside the PureGym before frantically slashing at Brown in front of horrified gym-goers.

As Brown attempted to flee, Price screamed "I'll kill you" and continued raining blows on his rival.

He severed Brown's femur bone and only just missed a major artery, which would have caused him to bleed out within minutes.

Price then fled the scene and evaded police for three weeks before eventually handing himself in.

Prosecutor Simon Mills said: "Samson Price intended to kill Patrick Brown, and he came very close to succeeding.

"Patrick Brown’s survival was a matter of sheer luck, and prompt medical care."

The court was told Price's son had drowned in a pond near the family home in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

Brown and two other teens were arrested on suspicion of murder after Price found his son's body.

But a police probe found the death was accidental as there was evidence the group was taking LSD and Samson Jnr had wandered away alone.

Price attempted to claim he did not want to kill Brown but instead gave "him a day of hell".

He told jurors during his evidence he wanted to leave him with scars to remind him of his son's death.

Price said: "He seemed to be happy and was talking to someone on his phone.

"I was struck by the unfairness of it all. I decided to punish him but not once did I think I was trying to kill him.

"I did not want to kill him but an opportunity presented itself to inflict pain and cause physical scarring which would last for the rest of his life.

"At no point was I intending to kill him. He was the only person who could tell us what happened to our son.

"I wanted to give him a day of hell. I wanted him to have the worst day of his life. I did not decide to act as judge, jury and executioner."

Judge Leeming said that Price launched a "carefully planned and pre meditated " attack in broad daylight with the machete.

He said: "You formed a settled intention to kill Mr Brown.

"This was carried out for revenge as you continued to hold him responsible for your son's death.

"You were determined to hold him to account.

"I reject your assertion that you simply wanted to point out to him the errors of his ways."

The Judge said Mr Brown was "very lucky to be alive" after one of the 21 blows struck within millimetres of a vital artery.

Prosecutor Simon Mills said that Mr Brown had written two personal victim statements in which he said he thought he was going to die during the attack.

Mr Brown said: "The incident has changed me massively and turned my life around completely.

"I no longer feel safe in public or in my home. I suffer from panic and anxiety attacks and can no longer do anything on my own. I have lost my sense of independence.

"I used to play football with my mates but I can no longer do those things.

"I have flash backs and sometimes things get too much for me and I have to go to my room and start screaming. My mother has to calm me down.

"I have gone from being a healthy boy to one who needs a bag full of prescriptions to help me through the day.

"I often think about how close I was to dying. I am still suffering."

Speaking after the verdict, his wife Rosanna told how she had lost her son and now her husband.

The mum also hit out at Brown, who is a first cousin, and the other boys who left her son alone.

Rosanna said of the attack: "My husband has never been in trouble - he did not have a wrong word to say about anyone.

"It just got to him that they did not even say sorry. He took it a different way than I did.

"He did slice up Patrick Brown but he is still living and his family have still got their son. I would give anything to have my son back. I would not wish our pain on anyone.

"When I hear about other parents who have lost children, I now understand what they have gone through. Samson was my life.

"My husband took it a different way. I am not saying that what he did was right, but there were circumstances, there was pressure and there was devastation. He used to wake up screaming."