A pair of teen killers will go to the Court of Appeal next week to fight their convictions for murder.

Brookton Lagan and Taison Cyrille, then both 19, were found guilty last year of fatally stabbing Darren MacCormick in Didcot. They were sentenced to life imprisonment four days before Christmas.

But lawyers for the pair say jurors at Oxford Crown Court should have been given the option to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.

A full appeal hearing will take place next Wednesday, the men having been given permission last month to appeal their convictions.

Dad of-three Darren MacCormick – known by the nickname ‘Dizzy’ – was stabbed to death on January 9, 2020.

At a trial last year, jurors heard the Didcot man was stabbed during an argument that had its origins in a disputed drugs debt between his friend and Lagan.

The fatal injury was a stab wound to the chest, which was described as 10cm deep and which caused damage to his heart.

Lagan and Cyrille, both from Bicester, later attempted to flee the country and were arrested at Luton Airport.

Brookton Lagan (left) and Taison Cyrille (right). Picture: Thames Valley Police

Brookton Lagan (left) and Taison Cyrille (right). Picture: Thames Valley Police

At a hearing last month, Lagan’s barrister Brian St Louis QC said jurors should have been given the option by the judge to have considered lesser charges of manslaughter and wounding – rather than only murder and wounding with intent.

Lagan was said to have carried a knife ‘to frighten people’ and had been warned previously of a threat to his life. He denied stabbing Mr MacCormick.

Giving the court's judgement in September, Mr Justice Lavender said: “We are persuaded by the able submissions of counsel that this should be considered by the full court. We therefore grant leave for appeal to each application on that ground and we say no more about the merits of it.”

The appeal will be heard at the Court of Appeal, in London’s Royal Courts of Justice, on Wednesday, November 3. The hearing is expected to start at 10.30am.

In the wake of Lagan and Cyrille being given life sentences last year, Mr MacCormick’s family released a heart-breaking tribute to the victim.

"There is a piece of us missing forever. None of the family can come to terms with the violent death of their son, brother, uncle. His three children are now without a dad,” they said.

“It has been the hardest, saddest year ever for us all mentally and physically. Our lives have changed forever.

“The grief is overwhelming and anyone who has lost a child will know the pain and heartache this leaves.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.