Mum reveals last moments with son before he died after being stabbed 64 times

22 February 2024 , 11:24

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Lindsey Allison is heartbroken over the loss of son Taylor Black (Image: Supplied by the family)

A heartbroken mum whose son was stabbed to death 64 times after going to a birthday party has revealed his last moments and shared the ongoing agony of her loss.

University student Taylor Black was murdered in one of the UK’s hidden knife crime hotspots. The 18-year-old, who once dreamed of being a journalist, was left with a blade embedded in his skull after returning to Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, for a family visit four years ago this month. In the wake of her son's death, Lindsey Allison endured more heartache as he brother took his own life.

Nathan Costello, 32, denied murder but was convicted following a trial at Teesside Crown Court that revealed he knifed him 64 times, including 40 times in the head, the Daily Star reports. While Costello had previously threatened Taylor, he gave no reason for the savage killing. Defence barrister, Peter Makepeace QC, claimed at the trial that Costello had a "limited history of violence."

Lindsey Allison with her two boys (Supplied by the family)

Taylor’s mum, Lindsey, is still grappling with the loss of her eldest son. Detailing her her precious final minutes with him, she wrote on Facebook: "This day four years ago was the last time I seen your beautiful face, heard your beautiful face and felt your loving arms around me because just a day later you were gone.

"I remember this day like it was yesterday. I dyed your hair bright red just how you loved it. I watched you get ready so excited to be going to your friend’s party."

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Cleveland Police, which covers boroughs of Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees where Taylor died, is the second highest police area in the UK for levels of knife crime and from January to August last year, there were over 600 stabbings recorded in these areas.

Computer science student Taylor had been on a visit home from university to see his mum Lindsey and younger brother Shae when he died. He asked his mum whether she fancied a movie night before remembering it was his friend’s party – so instead she dyed his hair red for the occasion.

Lindsey Allison and Shae, who Taylor had come home from university to see (Lindsey Allison)

But the morning after the party Taylor paid what was to be a fateful visit to the home of his former pal, Nathan Costello, who he previously knew from martial arts training. The pair had fallen out but Costello gave no explanation for why he pounced on Taylor and plunged a knife into his chest before repeatedly stabbing his victim in the skull.

Lindsey previously opened up to Daily Star about arriving at the scene of her son’s death. She told the publication: "A police officer told me Taylor was dead and I just fell to my knees and screamed. I looked at my mum in the distance and just yelled ‘he’s dead, he’s dead’ over and over."

During Costello’s murder trial, Lindsey’s brother Niki, 31, took his own life. The heartbroken mum, who found the body, said: “My son’s killer took two lives when he decided to butcher my son. He took the life of my brother too."

Taylor's mum dyed his hair red for a party (Lindsey Allison)

In her tribute to her lost son, Lindsey said: "I watched you bounce out the door telling me you loved me and that you would see me tomorrow and I shouted back ‘have a great time I love you and take care darling I’ll see you tomorrow’ only I never did see you tomorrow.

"I never seen you again because the next day you were gone, ripped so brutally from all our lives if only I had known that day that it would of been the last time I would see you. I would have kept you with me, begged you not to leave, I’d have kept you safe with me, I would have held onto you so tightly and gave you extra kisses.

"I love you my boy forever and ever my beautiful firstborn son I’ll see you again one day. Until then sweetheart, keep looking down on us all and helping us get through life without you."

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Supt Wayne Fox, from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire Murder Investigation Team, said: "Nathan Costello took the life of Taylor Black in the most brutal of circumstances.

"This was a pre-planned attack. Costello had previously threatened to harm Taylor prior to him being murdered and he proceeded to take his life in the most violent way possible. He has shown no remorse for what he has done and has offered no explanation for his actions to any of Taylor's family.

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"Costello entered a not guilty plea, and in doing so, added to the suffering of Taylor's family who have had to endure a painful and arduous trial which has involved graphic detail of his actions on that fateful day. No guilty verdict, or sentence, will ever bring Taylor back but I sincerely hope they can take some form of comfort from knowing that Costello will spend a significant time imprisoned for his crime."

Liam McInerney