BODELL MURDER TRIAL: Three jailed for cold-blooded killing

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

Following a six-week trial, jurors found Marvis Smith, 30, of Park Grange Road, Norfolk Park, guilty of murder by a majority of 11/1.

Brendon McFarlane, 22, of Hyde Park Terrace, Park Hill, was also found guilty of murder by a majority of 11/1.

Stevin Pierre, 25, of Waterslacks Close, Woodhouse, was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10/2.

Torrington Smith, 26, of Samuel Close, Norfolk Park, was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter.

Mr Bodell’s family said after the verdicts: “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.”

Sheffield Crown Court was told 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, in 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.

Mr Allen told the jury that after buying cocaine from an address nearby, the three started to walk back through the park. This was 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 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.

A date is yet to be fixed for sentencing.