South Yorkshire killers serving jail sentences for fatal assaults
By Jon Cooper
Published 25th Oct 2022, 22:32 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2022, 22:46 BST
Following the recent case of a one-punch killer The Star has reflected on how too many thugs are still failing to get the message about the fatal risks of physical violence.
Sheffield Crown Court has also dealt with too many cases where killers have been jailed for taking people’s lives after inflicting physical violence upon their victims with tragic consequences.
These highlighted cases include two half-brothers who beat a disabled man to death In Doncaster, a convicted a peadophile who beat a fellow hospital patient to death in Rotherham and a Sheffield thug who punched a man to the ground where he smashed his head and later died.
Sheffield Crown Court has also dealt with too many cases where killers have been jailed for taking people’s lives after inflicting physical violence upon their victims with tragic consequences.
5. Sean Holt
Killer Sean Holt, pictured, and fellow-defendant Richard Ferrie targeted Paul Crossley and his friend Steven Newton in Longley Hall Road, Sheffield, in May, 2020, following a dispute. Sheffield Crown Court heard in July how Holt and Ferrie armed themselves with golf clubs and followed the men to Longley Hall Road, but as Mr Crossley tried to placate the pair, he was punched by Holt and knocked to the ground. Mr Crossley suffered a bleed on the brain and died four days later. Ferrie had attacked Mr Newton with a golf club, then punched him in the face, according to the court. Holt, aged 45 at the time of sentencing, of Longley Hall Way, Longley, admitted manslaughter, and Ferrie, aged 46 when sentenced,, of Moncrieffe Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield, admitted affray. Holt was jailed for six years and Ferrie was sentenced to 18 months of custody. Photo: SYP
Ricky Braithwaite, aged 38 at the time of sentencing, of Newton Street, Barnsley, pictured, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Sheffield Crown Court after he killed a 60-year-old man during an assault. Braithwaite admitted attacking Graham Linstead in an unprovoked assault on Pitt Street West, Barnsley, on September 4, 2021. CCTV cameras captured Braithwaite punching Mr Linstead twice, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground. Mr Linstead was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and died of his injuries four days later. Braithwaite was sentenced to six years of custody. Photo: SYP
Pictured is Shae Nicholson, aged 20 at the time of sentencing, of Lincoln Close, Denaby Main, Doncaster, who was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of murder after a vulnerable man was attacked in an alleyway. A Sheffield Crown Court trial heard how Nicholson, Martell Brown and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had all denied murdering Jerry Appicella who was attacked in Denaby Main, Doncaster. But a jury found Nicholson guilty of murder and although Brown and the 15-year-old boy were found not guilty of murder they were found of guilty of manslaughter. John Harrison, prosecuting, said Mr Appicella, was attacked in December, 2019, and was found deceased 12 days later at his home in Denaby Main, by police. Mr Harrison added Mr Appicella was beaten, kicked, stamped on and struck with a weapon and was knocked to the ground. Nicholson received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years. Brown, aged 24 at the time of sentencing, of Colliery Road, Doncaster, was found guilty of manslaughter, and jailed for six-years. The teenage boy was found guilty of manslaughter and received a 30 month custodial sentence. Photo: SYP
Pictured is Martell Brown, aged 24 at the time of sentencing in May, 2021, of Colliery Road, Doncaster, who was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of manslaughter after a vulnerable man was attacked in an alleyway. A Sheffield Crown Court trial heard how Shae Nicholson, Martell Brown and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had all denied murdering Jerry Appicella who was attacked in Denaby Main, Doncaster. But a jury found Nicholson, aged 20 at the time of sentencing, of Lincoln Close, Denaby Main, Doncaster, guilty of murder and although Brown and the 15-year-old boy were found not guilty of murder they were found of guilty of manslaughter. John Harrison, prosecuting, said Mr Appicella, was attacked in December, 2019, and was found deceased 12 days later at his home in Denaby Main, by police. Mr Harrison added Mr Appicella was beaten, kicked, stamped on and struck with a weapon and was knocked to the ground. Nicholson received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years. Brown was found guilty of manslaughter, and jailed for six-years. The teenage boy was found guilty of manslaughter and received a 30 month custodial sentence. Photo: SYP