Teenager who murdered Charlie Cosser, 17, on crowded dancefloor at summer party jailed for life
Yura Varybrus stabbed Charlie Cosser in the chest
PA/Sussex Police
A 17-year-old who murdered a teenager on a crowded dancefloor at a summer party has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years.
Charlie Cosser, 17, was stabbed three times in the chest by Yura Varybrus in a marquee on the grounds of a farmhouse at a party attended by more than 100 people in Warnham, West Sussex, on July 23, 2023.
Varybrus, who was 16 at the time, was found guilty of murder and having a bladed article following a trial at Brighton Crown Court.
Judge Christine Henson KC lifted automatic restrictions on naming Varybrus because of his age after applications by reporters.
Yura Varybrus stabbed Charlie Cosser in the chest
PA/Sussex Police
Restrictions continue to ban reporting of his address and where he is detained.
Judge Henson said: "This is a case that is a particularly grave crime and has attracted substantial national and local interest.
"The level of youth crime in this case is likely to be of significant public interest at a private party attended by many young people.
"Charlie Cosser’s death has shocked a community and the family has set up a charity to fight against knife crime. Disclosure may aid the local community in coming to terms with this incident."
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Charlie Cosser
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Charlie's father Martin Cosser said in an statement: "I had to write a eulogy for my teenage son and read it to 700 people at his funeral.
"How he was killed haunts me and will haunt us forever. I’ve had to watch my lovely family fall apart in front of me and I’m completely helpless."
The court had heard how Varybrus of West Sussex, stabbed Charlie, who was not known to him, when a fight broke out between them and two other boys on the dancefloor after Varybrus and his friends were asked to leave the party following complaints about his behaviour towards a girl.
While the knife has never been found, witnesses at the party told jurors during the trial that they saw Varybrus "drenched" in blood and heard him say "I’ve stabbed someone" after the attack.
A guest at the party also captured part of the violence on video as she began filming her friends dancing to the song Toxic by Britney Spears under disco lights in the marquee.
Judge Henson added: "The lifting of the restriction promotes public confidence in justice and the interests of the public receiving fair, accurate and unrestricted reporting of such crimes."