Two men, Sanchez Francis (24) and Kieran Doherty (19), have been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of Paul Early (53) in Huddersfield. The crime occurred on June 19, 2022, in the Birkby area, where the victim was brutally assaulted, stabbed, and his body concealed in a cellar.
Francis was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years, while Doherty was given a minimum term of 17 years and six months. In addition to the murder conviction, both men were sentenced for two unrelated robbery offences.
The investigation began when police arrived at an address on Bradford Road, Fartown, to arrest Doherty in connection with a robbery. Upon searching the property, officers discovered Paul Early’s body concealed behind broken furniture in the cellar. Doherty was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
The attack on Paul Early occurred around 1:30 am on June 19, when he was randomly targeted by Francis and Doherty. The men assaulted Paul in the street before dragging him into Doherty’s home, where they continued the brutal assault, stabbing him multiple times with bladed weapons.
DCI Matthew Holdsworth, the Senior Investigating Officer, described the attack as one of the most violent he had encountered in his career, noting that the excessive violence and random nature of the attack made it particularly shocking. The officers’ work in bringing justice for Paul Early’s family and friends was emphasized as crucial, with Holdsworth stating that these men are dangerous individuals who will no longer pose a threat to the community.
Both men’s sentencing offers some closure to Paul Early’s relatives and ensures that they will serve significant time in prison for their heinous crimes.
