A Sheffield man is set to spend “longer than he has been alive on this planet” behind bars after he was convicted of the murder of a young dad shot dead in a case of mistaken identity.

Dad-of-two Kevin Pokuta was just 19-years-old when he was fatally shot as he sat in a car on Page Hall Road, Page Hall, on December 12, 2023.

This afternoon (Friday, January 23, 2026), Ethan Hallows became the second person to be sentenced for Kevin’s murder, during a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

Dad-of-two Kevin Pokuta was just 19-years-old when he was fatally shot as he sat in a car on Page Hall Road, Page Hall, in December 2023 in a case of mistaken identity.
This afternoon (Friday, January 23, 2026), Ethan Hallows became the second person to be sentenced for Kevin’s murder — Dad-of-two Kevin Pokuta was just 19-years-old when he was fatally shot as he sat in a car on Page Hall Road, Page Hall, in December 2023 in a case of mistaken identity. This afternoon (Friday, January 23, 2026), Ethan Hallows became the second person to be sentenced for Kevin’s murder | 3rd party

placeholder image — Dad-of-two Kevin Pokuta was just 19-years-old when he was fatally shot as he sat in a car on Page Hall Road, Page Hall, in December 2023 in a case of mistaken identity. This afternoon (Friday, January 23, 2026), Ethan Hallows became the second person to be sentenced for Kevin’s murder | 3rd party

Hallows appeared emotionless as The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, jailed him for life and told him he must spend a minimum of 33 years behind bars - minus the 264 days he has spent on remand - before he can be considered for parole.

“This was an act of revenge, but it was perpertrated against completely the wrong people,” Judge Richardson told Hallows, who attended court in a grey tracksuit top and bottoms.

Jurors convicted Hallows of Kevin’s murder at the conclusion of a trial at the same court, during which prosecutor Bryan Cox KC argued that 25-year-old Hallows had “made the hit’” on Kevin, mistakenly identifying his car as one that had earlier thwarted an attempt to rob a cannabis grow by colliding with one of those involved in the raid.

A group making their way to a drug den they planned to raid were halted in their tracks when an e-bike rider among them was hit by a car.

A gun was fired in the aftermath of the collision but the group, intent on revenge, spotted a car they believed to have been involved and Jake Brown - the other man convicted of Kevin’s murder - opened fire.

They had identified the wrong target and innocent Kevin paid the price with his life.

Judge Richardson continued: “You directed the gunman, and a few seconds later he executed what you had directed. You knew full well he had a gun, and was going to use it.

“Brown shot at the car as it reversed. The driver had seen Brown had a gun in his hand and those relatively young man were trying to escape being shot at for no reason. The car reversed into a side street while being shot at. It made off and the last shot killed Kevin Pokuta. It hit him in the head.”

In the days following the shooting, Hallows fled to Dubai where he remained until last year, when he voluntarily returned to the UK and was arrested at Manchester Airport.

The court was read an emotional statement from Kevin’s family, in which they said: “We will love and miss Kevin forever.”

They detailed how Kevin’s grief-stricken father died in April 2024, after becoming “overwhelmed” by the devastating impact of the loss; and suggested he was another casualty of the fatal incident.

In the months following Kevin’s death, his young son spent his third birthday blowing out candles at his father’s graveside.

“No child should ever have to do that,” his family said.

Kevin Pokuta (pictured inset) was just 19-years-old, when he was shot dead on Page Hall Road, Page Hall, Sheffield, in December 2023 | NW/Submit

Hallows was also convicted of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life during the same trial, after he denied all offences against him.

His then-partner Paris Askew, 23, of Griffiths Road, High Green, who was his partner at the time went on trial alongside him, accused of assisting an offender over claims she facilitated Hallows’ flight to Dubai.

She was also found guilty, and was jailed for three years during the same hearing. Her time on remand will also get towards her sentence.

Judge Richardson told Askew: “It is inconceivable that you did not know what he had done. You were his partner. I’m sure you knew he had involvement in a shooting and a murder inquiry was in train. He needed to leave the country fast, and you helped him to do so.

“Those who materially assist an offender to escape in that fashion must be punished.”

Two jurors involved with the trial returned to see Hallows and Askew receive their sentences.

Andrew Jones KC, defending Hallows, said he disagreed with assertions from the prosecution that there had been a “significant degree of pre-meditation.”

He suggested that whilst it is correct that Hallows left the jurisdiction to travel to Dubai, he did so 15 days before he was identified as a suspect.

Mr Cox told the court that Hallows returned to the United Kingdom on May 2, 2025, of his “own volition” and informed South Yorkshire Police of his arrival.

Judge Richardson responded by suggesting that messages sent by Hallows to Askew suggested his life in Dubai “wasn’t what he thought” and he had begun to understand that gaining work as a fugitive in Dubai - or other jurisdictions - was extremely difficult.

Mr Jones told the court that Hallows spent around a decade in care and after leaving the system at 17-years-old fell into organised crime as a route out.

“He’s facing a term of imprisonment that is longer than he’s been alive on this planet, and that - for a young man - is a very, very stark thought,” continued Mr Cox.

Mitigating for Askew, Sean Sullivan acknowledged that his client did help Hallows to flee to the court, but argued the court does not have evidence to prove she was aware of the murder he had been involved with when she assisted him in escaping.

Judge Richardson said, however, that he believed there to be “a reasonable inference that she knew what this was all about.”

Mr Cox said South Yorkshire Police first indicated a murder investigation was to be launched in a post to social media at 11.49am on December 13, 2023 - the day after the fatal shooting.

“At 2.28pm on the 13th (of December 2023) there was a request from Ms Askew to her mother asking if she could borrow her car. At 5.40pm, there was a message from Hallows [to Askew] saying: ‘Send me everything I need’,” Mr Cox said.

Continuing in his mitigation, Mr Sullivan continued by suggesting Askew’s conduct was borne out of “misplaced loyalty,” as opposed to someone involved with an organised crime group who is poised “at any time” to help a gang member escape.

He suggested she was someone who has always been hard working, taking up roles in hotels, garages and care homes during the pandemic, adding that she has been making the most of the opportunities in prison, working in the gym and achieving the status of trusted prisoner.

In an earlier trial involving other defendants, the gunman who opened fire at Kevin was identified as Brown, then 23, formerly of Horninglow Road, Firth Park,

In December 2024, Brown was jailed for life for Kevin’s murder and ordered to serve a minimum term of 36 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.

Three other men - Lester Ramsey, then 25, formerly Skelton Close, Woodhouse, Sheffield; Leon Waite, then 27, formerly of Denholme Close, Burngreave, Sheffield and Adam Mulligan, then 33 and formerly of Rotherham, were found guilty of conspiracy to rob.

Waite and Ramsey were jailed for four years and six months, while Mulligan received three years and six months.

Meanwhile a 17-year-old boy who was also found guilty of conspiracy and was handed a youth rehabilitation order.