Suspect appears in court over murder of Sheffield man

Zephaniah McLeod, aged 27, is accused of murder and seven counts of attempted murder after a series of street stabbings in Birmingham during the early hours of last Sunday.

Jacob Billington, aged 23, who worked as a graduate intern at Sheffield Hallam University, was killed in the incident after being knifed in his neck.

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His childhood friend and another Sheffield Hallam University graduate, Michael Callaghan, also 23, was left seriously injured.

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McLeod obscured his face with hands during the majority of the hearing via a videolink to Birmingham's Perry Barr police custody block.

During his five-minute appearance, the names of the seven people the alleged killer is accused of attempting to murder were read to him.

They are Dimitar Bachvarov, Migle Dolobauskaite, Thomas Glassey, Michael Callaghan, Shane Rowley, Rhys Cummings and Ryan Bowers.

As well as speaking to confirm he could hear the proceedings, the defendant confirmed his date-of-birth.

He appeared over a videolink because of routine Covid-19 safety measures and could be seen wearing a light grey T-shirt while seated in a chair.

Throughout the hearing he rubbed his face, forehead and ear with his hands.

Adjourning the proceedings, chairman of the bench David Warner told the court: “Before we retire, I would just like to express the court's sympathy with everybody who has been affected by these tragic events.”

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