LEICESTER, UK – Clifford Alvarez, also known as Cliffy, was found guilty of murder in connection with the death of Junior Osborne, 50, who was fatally stabbed in Leicester on 27 September 2023.
The verdict came on Wednesday, 12 February, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court. Alvarez, 45, was also found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.
In May 2023, Nero McLean was convicted of murder, while four other defendants – Nevardo McLean, Theobald ‘Thendo’ Budzwa, Moises Steiner, and James Williams – were convicted of manslaughter. CCTV footage showed the group together before, during, and after Mr. Osborne was attacked while cycling along Narborough Road. One of the men on a pushbike stopped Mr. Osborne just before he was stabbed.
At the time of the earlier trials, the man on the pushbike remained unidentified. Despite being featured in an appeal by Crimestoppers, his identity was unknown. However, during McLean’s trial, witnesses referred to him as ‘DJ’. This crucial piece of information led to the identification of Alvarez as the man on the bike, and he was arrested on 9 July 2023.
Although Alvarez denied being ‘DJ’, he was positively identified and charged. He is set to be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, 14 February.
Detective Inspector Mark Parish, the senior investigating officer, commented, “We always knew there was another person involved in the plot to kill Junior, and thanks to information disclosed during the trial and the relentless efforts of the investigation team, we were able to identify him.”
The investigation team’s persistence has provided justice for Mr. Osborne’s family and serves as a reminder that those responsible for such crimes will be held accountable.
