A mum whose son was left with a knife embedded in his skull after being stabbed 64 times paid a heartbreaking tribute on what should have been his 22nd birthday.
Taylor Black, who wanted to be a journalist, was just 18 when he was murdered.
And his mum Lindsey Allison today spoke about how “life is so unfair” in an emotional message.
READ MORE: ‘Killer stabbed my son in the head 40 times – then I found my brother dead’
She said she should be taking her boy to the pub to celebrate his special day but is instead buying flowers for his grave.
In a powerful Facebook post, she wrote: “Happy heavenly 22nd birthday my beautiful boy, I shouldn’t have to be buying flowers for your grave, I should be taking you to the pub celebrating with you, you should be out partying with your friends.
Taylor was studying computer science at university and had ambitions of being a journalist (Image: Lindsey Allison)
“Life is so unfair. I love you so much my amazing boy, make sure you celebrate up there with Niki. I’m sure you will, you were never one to turn down a good party till I see you again my boy, all our love mam, nanna and your little brother Shae.”
Taylor was a university student and was visiting his mum and younger brother Shae in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, on the weekend of his death.
But the morning after he went to a friend’s birthday party in February 2020, Lindsey got a dreaded phone call to say her precious boy had been stabbed.
It was later confirmed in court how Taylor’s former pal Nathan Costello, who was 32 during the murder trial, repeatedly knifed him in the skull during a horrendous attack.
He also pierced his victim’s heart and liver by plunging the weapon into his chest.
Nathan Costello is now serving a life sentence for the needless murder (Image: Cleveland Police)
Remembering the devastating moment she heard the unthinkable news, Lindsey told Daily Star: “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 the trial Lindsey’s brother Niki, who struggled to cope with losing his nephew, took his own life.
And she told us: “My son’s killer took two lives when he decided to butcher my son.
“He took the life of my brother too.
She said her son Shae has helped her keep going after tragically losing her son and brother (Image: Lindsey Allison)
Grieving mum Lindsey Allison with her boys Taylor and Shae (Image: Supplied by the family)
“Niki was vulnerable and didn’t know the gruesome details of Taylor’s death until he read about it online during the trial. It pushed him over the edge.
‘’So I had to bury my brother after already burying my son. I don’t know what I did to ever deserve that.”
Costello pleaded not guilty despite admitting the frenzied attack in text messages to friends.
But he was found guilty and was sentenced to a life with a minimum of 21 years in July 2021.
Afterwards, Lindsey told us: “We struggled to stay quiet when they said the word guilty.
“I then read my victim impact statement and explained that my brother had taken his own life just days before.
Lindsey Allison with her son Taylor Black(Image: Supplied by the family)
“My hands were trembling throughout but I got through it.
“I wanted my son’s killer to know how much he had affected my family and changed our lives forever.”
Lindsey has kept going in recent years thanks to her little boy Shae who penned a moving letter calling for an end to knife crime.
Shae, then nine, wrote: “Stop knife crime, it wastes lives and wastes the world.
“If somebody has physically hurt someone on purpose they are just bullies. The families will be hurting just as much as ours just like my family, my big loving brother was hurt on purpose.
Shae holding a letter he wrote calling for an end to knife crime (Image: Lindsey Allison)
“It’s ok to cry, let the tears roll down and then wipe them off and go and be a star just like our loved ones would want you too.
“You shouldn’t be scared because they are always with you and they live in a safe place called heaven.”
And after her recent birthday post remembering Taylor, Judithmary Allison wrote underneath: “Happy heavenly birthday my grandson Taylor. You always had a smile for everyone, bless you. Say hi to Niki. Love you son. God bless you Linz.”
Another comment read: “Happy Birthday gorgeous Taylor I hope you & Niki are having the biggest party.”
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