Sheffield man accused of slashing Isaiah Usen-Satchell to death claims he never had the knife in his hands

A man accused of slashing Isaiah Usen-Satchell to death during a confrontation claims he never had the knife in his hands.
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Sheffield Crown Court has heard during a trial how Isaac and Jacob Mwanza, both aged 19, of Rother View Road, Canklow, Rotherham, had been accused of murdering Isaiah Usen-Satchell who suffered a fatal slash wound to an arm by a knife in the Norfolk Park area of Sheffield in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2020 after violence flared close to his home.

But Judge Peter Kelson QC directed the jury to find both defendants not guilty of murder due to insufficient evidence but Isaac Mwanza still stands accused of manslaughter which he denies after claiming he acted in self-defence after Mr Usen-Satchell had jumped out of a bush with the knife.

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Kama Melly, prosecuting, claimed there had been disputes between Jacob and Isaac Mwanza’s friends and Mr Usen-Stachell’s friends during New Year’s Eve which culminated in them attending Mr Usen-Satchell’s neighbourhood, and the court heard Isaac’s girlfriend had been in a brief relationship with Mr Usen-Satchell.

Pictured is Isaiah Usen-Satchell who died after he suffered a severe knife wound to an arm in Sheffield on New Year's Day, 2020.Pictured is Isaiah Usen-Satchell who died after he suffered a severe knife wound to an arm in Sheffield on New Year's Day, 2020.
Pictured is Isaiah Usen-Satchell who died after he suffered a severe knife wound to an arm in Sheffield on New Year's Day, 2020.

Isaac Mwanza told the court today, January 4, he had been trying to help a friend retrieve a lost phone and had been intending to drive friends home when they ended-up in Norfolk Park and he had not been expecting violence.

He said: “Somebody jumped out of the bushes and I remember I ran backwards. My brother was stood close to Isaiah – to the person with the knife. But I jumped backwards.”

Isaac Mwanza claimed Mr Usen-Satchell stumbled and briefly dropped the knife and they tried to kick it away before Isaac said he initially ran after him because he thought Mr Usen-Satchell was pursuing his friends.

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He added he started walking up a hill when his brother shouted and he turned to see Mr Usen-Satchell coming at him.

Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.
Pictured is Sheffield Crown Court.

Isaac Mwanza claimed Mr Usen-Stachell was “swinging the knife” and his brother grabbed the blade to stop him but suffered a stab wound to his thigh so Isaac said he went towards Mr Usen-Satchell to stop him hurting his brother.

Isaac Mwanza claimed he tried to hold Mr Usen-Satchell by his shoulders and grabbed at the blade and cut his hand and he claimed that as Jacob tried to help he was sliced in a leg.

He also claimed he and his brother were shouting at Mr Usen-Satchell to let go of the knife before a friend intervened and Mr Usen-Satchell walked away.

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Isaac Mwanza said: “I never once picked up the knife. All I did was hold him down with his shoulders to prevent him hurting my brother.”

He added: "I did not cause that injury at all. All I did was hold him down by his shoulders to prevent him hurting my brother. He never let go of the knife.”

Isaac Mwanza said: “My purpose was to ‘unarm’ because I thought he was after my friends. Then my purpose became to defend myself and my brother.”

He added: “I never had the knife in my hands. I never had the handle. The only thing I touched was the blade.”

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Ms Melly previously said Mr Usen-Satchell died after suffering severe blood loss.

The trial continues.

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