Friends found guilty of killing Sheffield dad-of-two Marcus Ramsay

Marcus Ramsay was an innocent bystander who had been trying to defuse the violence when the 35-year-old was fatally wounded after violence erupted at a street party in Firth Park last year.

Ruben Moreno, 18, formerly of Aldfield Way, was found guilty of murder, following a five-week trial which concluded yesterday, Friday, June 11, at Sheffield Crown Court.

His friend Isaac Ramsey, also 18, and formerly of Andover Street, was found guilty of manslaughter.

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Mr Ramsay died after an unconnected altercation at the street party on Horninglow Road on the evening of Friday, August 7 last year escalated into significant disorder.

Moreno and Ramsey, then both 17, had attended the party, at which they arrived armed with knives.

At 12.15am on Saturday, August 8, a man then aged 24 was slashed across the chest and abdomen, setting off a chain of events which just 17 minutes later led to Mr Ramsay being stabbed to death by Moreno.

Mr Ramsay had been trying to prevent Moreno and Ramsey from chasing his brother through the crowds when the fatal wound was inflicted. Three other men were also stabbed that evening, all in unconnected incidents.

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DCI Mark Oughton, the senior investigating officer, said: “This case yet again lays bare the horrors brought by knife crime.

“Marcus Ramsay was an innocent bystander, whose gut instinct was to intervene and protect his brother from two teenagers he could clearly see were armed. Marcus was doing his very best to defuse a dangerous situation. He wasn’t involved in the evening’s violence; he was trying to put a stop to it.

“It’s important that we firstly recognise the dignity and resilience shown by Marcus’s family. They have attended court every single day, and over the last five weeks have heard harrowing details of his final moments while enduring the defendants doing their very best to distance themselves from any blame.

“I thank them wholeheartedly for their support through this investigation.”

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Moreno and Ramsey were caught on CCTV numerous times on the night of Mr Ramsey’s murder, with footage showing them producing their knives and then fleeing as Mr Ramse was dying.

Police later recovered both knives close to the scene, and a manhunt was launched for the duo, who went on the run for several weeks.

DCI Oughton said: “It is undeniable that Moreno and Ramsey arriving with knives dramatically, and unnecessarily, escalated this situation. Both friends had a propensity for carrying weapons, and I am pleased that justice has been served today. The streets of South Yorkshire will be safer without them.”

Moreno and Ramsey were also convicted of an attempted wounding that evening.

Moreno had already pleaded guilty to the possession of a bladed article.

Ramsey was also convicted of wounding with intent after an assault which occurred in Gower Street, Burngreave on Friday, December 20, 2019.

Following a minor car crash, Ramsey senselessly stabbed the other driver, who was unarmed, four times. The 33-year-old required hospital treatment for his injuries, which included a collapsed lung.Moreno and Ramsey are due to return to Sheffield Crown Court on July 30 for sentencing.