46-year-old Chris Marriott was known as a “kind, genuine, affectionate and gentle” person, who cared deeply for others and always tried to see the best in them.

Chris, aged 46, was helping a woman lying in the road in College Close, Burngreave, Sheffield, on the afternoon of December 27, 2023, when he was struck by a car, leaving him with fatal injuries.

He had been out on a walk with his wife and children when he stopped to help. He leaves behind wife, Bryony, and their two children.

Chris Marriott was on a Christmas walk with his wife, Bryony, and their children in Sheffield when he stopped to help a woman in the road at the scene of an ugly family feud. He never returned home. | SYP

placeholder image — Chris Marriott was on a Christmas walk with his wife, Bryony, and their children in Sheffield when he stopped to help a woman in the road at the scene of an ugly family feud. He never returned home. | SYP

Four others were also seriously injured in the collision, including midwife Alison Norris, who was also attempting to come to the woman’s aid.

Jurors found Hassan Jhangur guilty of Chris’ murder in July 2025, at the conclusion of a retrial at Sheffield Crown Court. The jury in Hassan Jhangur’s first trial failed to reach a verdict after more than 35 hours of deliberation.

Jhangur, formerly of Whiteways Road, Grimesthorpe, was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 26 years, during a hearing held at the same court last month.

This Christmas, we remember kind-hearted Chris and the contribution he made to his community.

During the sentencing hearing, Bryony delivered a powerful statement to the court, in which she spoke of Chris’ compassionate heart, his passion for empowering others and of how he never left his family in any doubt of how much they were loved.

Speaking through tears, Bryony said: “Chris's death will affect me and my children for the rest of our lives, in different ways at different times.

“But instead of becoming bitter or full of hate, we choose to hold on to hope and joy, and to continue to enjoy the many good things in our lives. Thankfully we have wonderful memories to treasure,” she said.

“There is no area of our lives that hasn't been affected by Chris's death. Chris and I were married for 16 years, and we expected that we would grow old together. I miss his smile and his laugh, his touch, and his wisdom and encouragement.”

Chris loved being a dad, said Bryony, and never left their two children - or her - in any doubt of his love for them.

“He told us often, showed us daily through so many small acts of kindness, gave lots of hugs and kisses, and loved spending time with us.”

She described him as a “kind, genuine, affectionate and gentle” person, as a “man of faith” whose love for God and people “shone through in what he devoted his time to.”

“He had a compassionate heart, and loved helping, supporting, and empowering others,”

In the days following his death, he was widely praised as a “Good Samaritan” for his actions.

Speaking at the time, Chris’ family issued a statement: “Chris was a wonderful husband, dad, brother, uncle - and friend to many.

"The circumstances of his death, although tragic and unfathomable to us, his family, show the sort of man he was - to go to help rather than to turn away.

"Chris was also a man of faith who wanted others to also experience the joy he had found trusting in Jesus.

“We take comfort in these most difficult of times in our belief that he is with his Lord and Saviour, while we mourn his loss.”

Chris’ loved ones also revealed that he devoted much of his life to helping others including at Sheffield College, Jubilee Foodbank and Debt Advice, Voluntary Action Sheffield, and more recently Community Money Advice and as a trustee of MASKK (Manor and Castle After School and Kids Klubs).

Sheffield College - where Chris worked for over a decade until 2012 when he left to start one of Sheffield's first food banks - also paid tribute to him in the days following his death.

Chief executive and principal Angela Foulkes CBE said: "We are devastated to hear the extremely sad news about the passing of Chris Marriott.

"Chris was a great person to work with. Colleagues fondly remember how he always took the time to get to know people, which led to a strong team spirit... He possessed a quiet strength of character, determination and a positive outlook that inspired colleagues.

“He was generous with his time and kind and considerate of others’ feelings. He always looked for the best in others and had a good word for everyone."

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Chris worked at the college for over a decade supporting students as well as coordinating student recruitment and financial support, and once gave his time over the holidays to help colleagues process 1,500 late course applications.

Ms Foulkes continued: “Chris was always willing to go the extra mile to make things happen.

"Chris used to talk about the work he did for the church and other charities and the importance of this in his life.

“When he left the college to work for City Church Sheffield, he was so excited. When he set up one of the first food banks in the city, he offered to support any college students in need.

“Nothing was ever too much trouble for Chris. He was kind and generous with his time. He really cared about students and staff alike - he was truly 'student first'.”

A fundraiser in aid of his family topped £50,000 by January 2024.