Reveller found guilty of murder after he stabbed Macaulay Byrne to death outside Sheffield pub

Sheffield Crown Court heard during a two-week trial how Bovic Mupolo, aged 21, of Fleury Rise, Gleadless, Sheffield, had denied murdering Macaulay Byrne following an alleged ‘fight’ involving Mupolo and Mr Byrne outside the Gypsy Queen pub, Beighton, just before 10pm, on Boxing Day, 2021.

But a jury found him guilty of murder today (November 24) after they heard that Mr Byrne had suffered four stab wounds, with two of them proving fatal, as he staggered back into the pub and bled out profusely behind the bar.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, The Recorder of Sheffield, told Mupolo: “You have been convicted of murder and therefore the only sentence I can pass on you by law is one of life imprisonment. That sentence will be passed upon you tomorrow morning.

“However, I have an important decision to make – that is the minimum term you must serve before you may be released on licence. That decision will also be made tomorrow and I will give my reasons.”

John Harrison KC, prosecuting, previously told the court Mupolo had pushed Mr Byrne and they were involved in a fight that started at the pub steps and spilled into the car park during which time Mupolo stabbed Mr Byrne multiple times.

Mr Harrison added that during the incident Mupolo’s 25-year-old friend Layton Morris had allegedly been involved in another fight with others and Mr Harrison had accused Mr Morris of helping Mupolo get away and get a change of clothes.

Assistant pub manager Dawn Blake stated she had seen a group squaring-up outside before Mr Byrne returned to the pub and she called 999 and said he had been stabbed and was now behind the bar.

Mr Byrne was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital but he died of his wounds at 11.15pm.

Former kitchen porter Mupolo had claimed to the jury that he did not stab Macaulay Byrne to death during the ‘fight’ and he had also claimed he had initially been racially insulted and he had been trying to defend himself but the jury convicted him of murder.

Mr Harrison said that after the incident Mupolo and Mr Morris took a taxi to Swinton and changed clothes at Mr Morris’ address before going to a pub in Rotherham and two bars in Sheffield.

Layton Morris, of Sidney Street, Swinton, near Mexborough, Rotherham, who faced only one charge, was found not guilty of assisting an offender after he had been accused of helping Mupolo with his departure and a change of clothes.

Mr Morris had stated in a written defence statement that some people had shouted racist threats so he and Mupolo had left the pub, and Mr Morris also stated he was not aware there had been a stabbing.

The jury was sent out to begin its deliberations on Tuesday afternoon, November 22, and returned its verdicts just after midday, on Thursday, November 24.

Mupolo is due to be sentenced tomorrow, Friday, November 25, at Sheffield Crown Court.