Man killed sister with samurai sword days after son jailed for murdering boy

23 February 2024 , 20:36

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Roger Harriott, 56, stabbed sister Sandra, also 56, just eight days after his teenage son was publicly named for murdering a schoolboy

A man killed his sister in the street with a samurai sword in a "brutal, vicious and merciless attack”, just days after his teenage son was jailed for a knife murder.

Roger Harriott, 56, killed mum-of-two Sandra Harriott in the horrific sword attack outside the home she shared with their 80-year-old mother in Fartown, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

The sickening murder came less than two weeks after his son, Jovani Harriott, 17, was jailed for life for the murder of Khayri McLean, 15, who was stabbed to death as he walked home from school.

Harriott had a "toxic" relationship with his sister, Leeds Crown Court was told, and they had previously fallen out over the care of their mother, who had Alzheimer's.

Harriott had been arrested on suspicion of defrauding his mother three weeks before he killed his sister. At that time, he told cops she “would not be getting her hands on their mother's money".

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Paramedics found Sandra Harriott on Ripon Avenue in Fartown Friday, May 26, she was pronounced dead soon after (YorkshireLive/MEN)

Ms Harriott, 56, had been "living in fear" of her brother since 2020, the court heard, following a series of incidents in which he physically and verbally abused her, spat in her face, and drove aggressively at her.

Harriott was fascinated by blades, and the court heard how had had "an interest in knives for some time" and used them to threaten violence.

Ms Harriott had started carrying a personal alarm as a result of her brother’s threats, and had taken out a non-molestation order in December 2022, banning Harriott from coming near her or her home, prosecutor David Hall said.

In her application for the non-molestation order, the court heard how the victim had written how her brother had weapons, that she "(felt) uneasy in my mum's home, knowing he could turn up at any time", and that she "had come to realise how dangerous this man is".

Harriott was in breach of both this order and his bail conditions following his arrest for fraud, when he drove 10 miles from Bradford to Huddersfield in the early hours of May 26 last year. The court heard how he waited outside Ms Harriott's house before 7am until she came outside, before getting out of his car and running towards her holding a samurai sword.

Leeds Crown Court (MEN MEDIA)

Harrowing CCTV footage of the attack shows her attempting to run away from him, before he strikes her eight times with the sword, "hacking and slashing" at her after she had fallen to the floor. Mr Hall said Ms Harriott could be seen "writhing" on the ground and kicking out to defend herself. Harriott then moved towards his car, but turned back and stabbed his sister one last time through the chest before leaving, the court heard.

Attempts to resuscitate Ms Harriott, who had two adult sons, were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead in hospital.

Harriott then drove to Huddersfield police station immediately to hand himself in. He told officers: "I've just murdered someone - my dad's daughter, the weapon is in the car." Cops found the 55cm samurai sword in the vehicle, as well as some other weapons.

Forensics officers at the murder scene in Fartown, Huddersfield (YorkshireLive/MEN)

Harriott admitted he had intended to kill his sister, and that there was "animosity" between them arising out of their mother's care, his lawyer Gerald Hendron said. He had spent a number of years caring for his mother, the court heard, living with her and dealing with her finances on her behalf, Mr Hendron told the court.

Harriott was "adamant" that he had never "acted dishonestly towards his mother", Mr Hendron said. He explained how the defendant was about to travel from the UK to Gambia, where he spent much of his time, when he was told he could not fly as he was to be arrested over an allegation of fraud.

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Concerns had been raised by the Office of the Public Guardian about 134 transactions from Harriott's mother's bank account, with withdrawals amounting to tens of thousands of pounds that "bore no relation to (her) daily needs". When Harriott was interviewed about the alleged fraud, he told police he had a "toxic" relationship with his sister and said repeatedly she "would not be getting her hands on (their) mother's money," the court was told.

Mr Hendron said Harriott "does genuinely regret his actions on that day". Harriott pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years. Judge Robin Mairs told the defendant that Ms Harriott "had for some years considered you capable of serious violence".

Jovani Harriott was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder of Khayri McLean. Leeds Crown Court heard Harriott and his cousin, Jakele Pusey, then 15, had lain in wait for Khayri, with masks and large knives, near his Huddersfield school in September 2022, and attacked him in front of a number of other horrified schoolchildren.

Katie Dickinson