Sheffield murder: Two men found guilty following retrial over death of 'good Samaritan'

Two men have been found guilty of murder and manslaughter following a retrial over the death of a 26-year-old man who intervened to help a teenage girl being assaulted in Sheffield.

Reece Radford died after being stabbed during a violent attack in Sheffield city centre on September 29, 2022.

The 26-year-old had stepped in to help a 17-year-old girl after witnessing her being physically assaulted by Dereck Owusu on Arundel Gate.

Owusu and Louis James then turned on Reece, with James stabbing him during the attack.

Reece was taken to hospital but died six days later as a result of a stab wound.

Reece Radford intervened when he saw a 17-year-old girl being assaulted on Arundel Gate.placeholder image
Reece Radford intervened when he saw a 17-year-old girl being assaulted on Arundel Gate. | sYP

Both men were originally convicted of murder following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court in April 2023 and were subsequently jailed.

However, the pair appealed against their convictions, with the Court of Appeal upholding their appeal and ordering a retrial.

Following a retrial at Leeds Crown Court, a jury returned fresh verdicts on Thursday (Oct 22).

James, 50, previously of Manor Lane, Sheffield, was again found guilty of murder.

Owusu, 43, previously of Strathmore Grove, Rotherham, was found guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.

The pair will return to Leeds Crown Court at a later date to be re-sentenced.

Following the verdicts, Detective Inspector Adam Watkinson, senior investigating officer from South Yorkshire Police's Major Crime Unit, said: “My thoughts remain with Reece’s friends and family.

“I cannot imagine what they have been through, having to endure a second murder trial after they thought that justice had been served."

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