Two gang members have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of 50-year-old father, Kelvin Ward, who was attacked with machetes and left to die on a busy street in Birmingham. Tyrone Hollywood, 17, and 29-year-old Leighton Williams were given minimum terms of 19 and 29 years, respectively, after CCTV footage revealed the fatal attack on Mr. Ward.
The incident took place on April 18, last year, in Castle Bromwich, near Birmingham. The footage, later released by the police with the victim’s family’s approval, shows Mr. Ward being chased and attacked by the gang after his son’s car was rammed near a roundabout on Chester Road. Although Mr. Ward’s son was initially the intended target, Mr. Ward was fatally stabbed in the chest while trying to intervene.
A High Court judge, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb, sentenced Aaron Coates, 21, to 21 years in detention for his role in the unlawful killing. Coates was found guilty of manslaughter, while Rusharn Williams-Reid, aged 18, received 13-and-a-half years’ detention for conspiracy to murder Mr. Ward’s son, who managed to escape the scene.
During the sentencing, the judge described the attack as a “planned” and “brutal” act of violence, noting that the defendants were prepared to use lethal force. Mr. Ward’s daughter, Leanne Palmer, described the devastating impact the murder had on her family, recalling the trauma of identifying her father’s body. She said, “The impact the murder of my dad has had on my life is unreal… my world fell apart.”
The trial revealed that Mr. Ward’s son had been involved in previous disputes with some of the attackers, leading to a series of attacks on the family home before the murder. Hollywood and Williams, who were convicted of murder, were part of a gang that rammed Mr. Ward’s son’s car, chased him, and ultimately stabbed his father to death. Mr. Ward’s attempt to flee the scene in the stolen car ended tragically when he collided with railings. He was then attacked by Hollywood and Williams while trying to escape.
The violent nature of the attack and the gang’s taunting of Mr. Ward as he lay dying shocked the public. Hollywood and Williams, who both had previous criminal records, were caught on CCTV during the assault.
After sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski emphasized the “tragic loss of life” and the devastating impact on Mr. Ward’s family. The four defendants were also found guilty of conspiracy to murder Mr. Ward’s son, who narrowly escaped death.
As a result of their actions, Hollywood and Williams will spend years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The other defendants will also serve significant time behind bars, with the families of the victims left to cope with the irreparable loss of a beloved family member.
In a statement after the verdicts, Mr. Ward’s partner, Tammy, expressed her heartbreak, stating that his death was “disgraceful” and something no one should ever have to experience.