BODELL MURDER: Sheffield dad's killers jailed for 86 years minimum

Father-of-two Grant Bodell, aged 23, was shot dead in Manor Fields Park, off Queen Mary Road on the Manor, in June 2014.

Download The Star’s mobile app for FREE

Marvis Smith, 30, of Park Grange Road, Norfolk Park, was handed a life sentence with minimum term of 38 years after being found guilty of murder.

Brendon McFarlane, 22, of Hyde Park Terrace, Park Hill, was given life imprisonment with a minimum term of 32 years after being found guilty of murder.

Stevin Pierre, 25, of Waterslacks Close, Woodhouse, was jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of manslaughter.

Jailing Marvis Smith, Mr Justice Andrew Smith said: “The picture is clear: far from feeling any regret after murdering Grant Bodell, Marvis Smith defended the operation.

“He was ready to do it again. That much is clear.”

Smith was jailed in his absence following an aggressive outburst before the sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court today.

Mr Justice Smith said of Smith: “He was ruthless. He kept guns and ammunition and used them to assert his standing in the drugs world.”

During a six-week trial, the court heard Mr Bodell had been out drinking with two friends, brothers Corrie and Christopher Allen, on the night he was murdered.

The jury heard there was bad blood between Corrie Allen and Marvis Smith, who headed-up a drugs dealing gang. The feud began after Smith stole a neck-chain of Mr Allen.

In the hours prior to the murder, a confrontation between the Allens and associates of Marvis Smith occurred at the Embassy Club, on Mansfield Road.

Following the confrontation, Corrie Allen returned with a shotgun and fired it in the club’s car park.

After the incident, Mr Bodell went with the Allen’s to their mother’s home, which is close to Manor Fields Park.

Corrie Allen told the jury that after buying cocaine from an address nearby, the three started to walk back through the park at around 2am. He said that when they got to around ten feet away from the exit, he saw at least five figures and they fled

The Allens ran further into the park but Mr Bodell was unable to flee due to a previous motorcycle injury that slowed his movement.

Mr Bodell was shot at least three times, with the post-mortem examination recording the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

Mr Allen said they found Mr Bodell seriously injured in the park and his brother called 999 while he went to hide the shotgun in a garden nearby. Mr Bodell was taken to hospital where he died a short time later.

Smith was handed 12 and-a-half years after pleading guilty to supplying cannabis, 22 and-a-half years after admitting supplying crack cocaine, heroin and for firearms offences. He was also given four and-a-half years for making threats to kill. All sentences will run concurrently.

McFarlane was given 19 years after pleading guilty to supplying crack cocaine, heroin and for firearms offences and nine years for supplying cannabis, which will also run concurrently.

A third defendant, Abduallah Mohammed, 23, of Addy Street, Upperthorpe, was jailed for 20 years after pleading guilty to supplying crack cocaine, heroin and for firearms offences. He was also handed nine years for supplying cannabis. These sentences will run concurrently.

Mr Bodell’s family said: “Grant was a loving son, brother and father who was cruelly taken from us in June 2014. Our lives have changed forever and will never be the same again. Grant may not have been an angel, but he did not deserve to lose his life in this way.

“His two young children have been left without a father, his brother and sisters have been left without their best friend and his mum and dad just feel lost without him.”

Detective Superintendent David Barraclough, the senior investigating officer who led the murder investigation, said: “The result today should serve as a message to anyone who makes the decision to arm themselves with a weapon, regardless of how long it takes, we will identify you and bring you to justice.”

He added: “The investigation has been protracted and complex with detectives and officers relentlessly pursuing all lines of enquiry to ensure every aspect was investigated thoroughly for over 18 months.

“My thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Bodell’s family who have remained patient throughout the length of this investigation, and I can only hope the result today provides them with some form of comfort knowing that justice has been served.”