The former Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Hewart, once said “justice must be not only be done, but must also be seen to be done” – outlining one of the main reasons that news outlets cover court cases.
Our reporters attend the county’s criminal courts – as well as its coroners’ courts – every day; reporting on cases from across South Yorkshire in order to show justice being done and to shine a spotlight on the lessons that can be learned from a person’s death.
We have been your eyes and ears in court as some of the county’s most reprehensible offenders have been jailed for their heinous crimes.
And here are 10 of the worst cases from the past decade.
Our thoughts continue to be with the victims’ loved ones.
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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.
9. Fatal attack on Sheffield pizza delivery man
Thavisha Lakindu Peiris had his life cruelly cut short by armed robbers Shamraze Khan (left) and Kasim Ahmed. Thavisha was about to finish his last shift as a pizza delivery man to start a new job in IT in October 2013 when he was attacked and repeatedly stabbed by Khan and Ahmed as they attempted to steal his phone. Ahmed and Khan were jailed for life in 2014, to serve a minimum of 23 and 24 years, respectively. Ahmed pleaded guilty to murder, while Khan was convicted following a trial. Photo: SYP
10. Teen shot dead in gang war
16-year-old Jonathan Matondo was shot dead in October 2007 in a killing which shocked Sheffield and blew the lid off a deadly feud in which rival gang members from Burngreave and Pitsmoor were at war. It led to South Yorkshire Police revealing for the first time that two armed gangs, known as S3 and S4 were involved in a long-running feud at that time. Jonathan, who moved to Sheffield when he was six years old to escape a deadly civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was a member of the S3 gang. A 19-year-old man, who spent a year in custody, stood trial twice over the murder but walked free. Photo: SYP