Friends jailed for life over death of 'hero' stabbed at Sheffield party while trying to protect his own brother

Marcus Ramsay, aged 35, was stabbed to death in an attack in Firth Park just after midnight on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

He was knifed through his heart while trying to protect his own brother.

Ruben Moreno, now 18, was convicted of murder and his co-defendant, Isaac Ramsey, also 18, was found guilty of manslaughter after a trial earlier this year.

The pair were sentenced today at Sheffield Crown Court with both jailed for life, with Moreno ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars and Ramsey jailed for a minimum of 14 years.

Moreno and Ramsey, then both 17, attended a party in Horninglow Road, Firth Park, and both were armed with knives.

A 24-year-old man was slashed across his chest and abdomen in an incident at the party, which triggered a chain of events which, just 17 minutes later, led to the fatal stabbing of Mr Ramsay the hands of Moreno.

At the time, Mr Ramsay was trying to prevent the pair from chasing his brother through the crowds.

Handing the friends their sentence today, Judge Peter Kelson QC said: “Marcus Ramsay died a hero. He gave his life to save his brother. He never saw the knife coming, you never gave him a chance.”

Senior investigating officer, DCI Mark Oughton said he was pleased with the sentences handed to the duo in court.

Speaking at the time of their conviction, he 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 diffuse a dangerous situation. He wasn’t involved in the evening’s violence; he was trying to put a stop to it.”

Three other men also received knife wounds that evening, all in unconnected incidents.

DCI Oughton continued: “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.”

CCTV footage captured after Mr Ramsay’s death showed Monero and Ramsey producing knives and then fleeing as their victim lay dying.

Monero and Ramsey went on the run for several weeks.

DCI Oughton continued: “This has been a complex and lengthy inquiry. The investigation team reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and spoke to countless witnesses who were at the street party that night.

“It is thanks to the efforts of my team, and the support of the public, that we have been able to present such a strong case at court.

“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, formerly of Aldfield Way, Longley, was also given an 18 month jail term after admitting possession of a bladed article and was handed a further five year sentence after being convicted of attempted wounding on the same evening. These sentences will run concurrently.

Ramsey, formerly of Andover Street, Burngreave, was given a six year term for his involvement in the same incident.

He was handed a further eight years after being 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 stabbed the other driver, who was unarmed, four times.

The 33-year-old required hospital treatment for his injuries, which included a collapsed lung.

These sentences will run concurrently.

TRIAL: Marcus Ramsay trial: Dad-of-two ‘stabbed in the heart’ at Sheffield house party