Canterbury Man Jailed for Life Over Fatal Pub Knife Attack
A brutal stabbing outside a village pub has ended with a Canterbury man locked up for life. William Cosier, 34, stabbed Adam Pritchard, 35, to death following a heated clash at the Queens Head pub in Boughton-under-Blean.
Pub Brawl Escalates to Deadly Stabbing
The violent incident unfolded on the night of 13 March 2024. Cosier and Pritchard exchanged punches inside the pub after a brief argument. Tempers flared when Cosier threatened Pritchard with a bar stool, forcing the victim to leave the building.
Ignoring staff warnings, Cosier armed himself in the kitchen with a 22cm knife and followed Pritchard outside, hiding the blade behind his back. Despite Pritchard firing a BB gun at him, Cosier pursued and attacked him on the street.
The brutal fight spilled into the road, with a passing minibus swerving to avoid the fracas. Witnesses saw Cosier deliver stabbing blows, leaving Pritchard with two wounds before he staggered back towards the pub.
Desperate Bid to Save Victim Fails
- Bystanders rushed to take Pritchard to hospital.
- They flagged down an ambulance en route.
- Paramedics battled to save him but Pritchard died at the scene.
Conviction and Sentencing Give Family a Glimmer of Justice
Cosier fled the scene in a blood-stained white Mercedes but handed himself in to Canterbury Police the next day. He was charged with murder and possession of a knife in public.
On 9 October, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced on 1 November to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years at Canterbury Crown Court.
“Today’s sentencing will not bring Adam back, but I hope it offers some form of justice to his family, who have been left devastated by the events of that fateful night,” said Detective Inspector Lee Neiles, who led the probe.
DI Neiles branded Cosier a “violent man” who “chose to arm himself to cause as much injury as possible, despite Adam backing away several times.”
The sentence closes a tragic chapter for the community and honours the memory of Pritchard, remembered as a loving father and friend.
