Victor-Eduard Raja Jailed for Life for Stabbing Sidney Palmer
Victor-Eduard Raja, 25, has been sentenced to life in prison for the tragic killing of Sidney Palmer, a 59-year-old man who attempted to break up a fight in Leicester. Raja will serve a minimum of 25 years and six months for stabbing Palmer through the heart during a violent altercation in Conduit Street on September 30, 2022.
The attack, which took place near Leicester Railway Station, was captured on CCTV. Raja, who had armed himself with a knife, swung it at Palmer after an earlier skirmish. Raja claimed in court that he had been offered £20 worth of drugs to hit someone, but in the chaos of the altercation, he accidentally stabbed Palmer while trying to escape. Palmer, who was not involved in the fight, intervened as a peacemaker, only to tragically lose his life.
Raja’s co-defendants, Michael Boleyn and Nathan Pritchard, were also found guilty in connection with the events. Boleyn received an eight-year sentence, while Pritchard was sentenced to six years for manslaughter. Raja’s mother, Diana Bodrug, was convicted for assisting an offender, having helped Raja flee the scene by taking him to Yorkshire and providing him with false details.
Palmer’s daughter, Leanne Palmer, spoke of the devastating impact of her father’s death. She expressed the heartbreak of having to identify his body and the profound grief that followed. Her uncle, Jon Palmer, remembered Sidney as a well-liked, cheerful character, who was tragically killed while trying to help.
The case highlights the devastating consequences of a senseless act of violence and the impact it has on families and communities. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, the senior investigating officer, described Palmer’s death as a “tragic loss” and extended condolences to his family.
