05 May 2023 , 11:55
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Two thugs who murdered a good Samaritan who stepped in to help a teenage girl they'd targeted in a city centre have been jailed for life.
Dereck Owusu, 40, and Louis James, 47, "set about" Reece Radford and "subjected him to serious violence" in the middle of the road. Mr Radford had intervened when the 17-year-old girl was assaulted by Owusu near a bus stop in Sheffield city centre.
A court heard a fight broke out, which led to 26-year-old Mr Radford, a dad of a baby girl, being stabbed to death.
James, who stabbed Mr Radford, was jailed for a minimum term of 25 years, while Owusu received a minimum term of 15 years. Both were convicted of murder last month following a trial, reports Yorkshire Live.
Dereck Owusu kicked Mr Radford to the head repeatedly (PA)
Louis James stabbed Mr Radford, a dad, in the chest (PA)Sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday, Judge Sarah Wright said: "You both set about him and, having put him to the floor in the middle of the road, he found himself face up and subjected to serious violence inflicted by both of you.
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"You Owusu, kicked him to the head three or four times. The ferocity of those kicks can be seen on the CCTV."
Both defendants had been drinking on the night of September 28 last year and, in the early hours of September 29, bumped into the teenage girl - who they knew - at the bus stop.
The three of them shared alcohol but Owusu later punched her in the face. This prompted Reece to intervene and punch Owusu.
The case was heard at Sheffield Crown Court (PA Archive/PA Images)Father-of-one Mr Radford suffered fatal stab wounds to his chest, inflicted by James.
During the incident, Owusu stole Reece's wallet from the floor. Both left the scene, with James dropping the knife down a drain and later denied ever having a knife. The weapon was found by police.
Reece was described as a much-loved son, stepson, brother and grandson, whose daughter was just seven months old when her father was murdered. "She will grow up not knowing her father," said the judge.
"His mother described him as her everything. His family are devastated and shattered by his loss. And their lives will never be the same again."
In relation to mitigating factors, the judge said there was "an element of self-defence" in the case of Louis James but this was "only momentary" before it "very quickly turned into an unlawful joint attack".