A gang of teenagers who murdered a dad in his own home can be unmasked today – as they were locked up for at least 72 years over the killing. Along with her boyfriend, Jordan Tams, and pal Leandro Lopes, Kriesha Stroud carried out a “senseless” attack on Gary Belfield and his son, Luke Williams.
Stroud, who was just 15 at the time, recruited Tams, 17, and Lopes, who was 17 at the time and is now 18, to help her carry out the murderous attack in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Chronicle Live reports the publication successfully applied for reporting restrictions to be lifted, allowing them to identify the murderers for the first time.
Stroud and Tams identities had been protected, due to their age, meaning their names and pictures could not be published. But the restriction was lifted by a judge. After organising the fatal attack at the father and son’s home in Felling, Gateshead, Stroud was later covertly recorded as saying she was “glad” Mr Belfield died and “disappointed” his son had survived.
Now Stroud, of Eastcote Terrace, Walker, Newcastle, Tams, of Wesley Court, Felling, Gateshead and Lopes, of Archer Street, Wallsend, have all been detained at His Majesty’s pleasure, which is effectively a life sentence for youths. Tams and Lopes must serve at least 26 years which Stroud has to do 20 years. Mr Justice Constable described the attack on Belfield as “dreadful”.
He said it was “shocking not just for its brutality and senselessness but because it was encouraged and carried out by three who were at the time children”. In a victim impact statement, Luke said: “I feel like what happened that night is senseless. They didn’t ask for anything but I sensed they had purpose. To me these three people are vile human beings.
“Seeing them laughing and joking pre and post court sessions tell me they have no remorse. A lot has been made of them being children. Those children stole my best friend and changed our lives as a family forever.” Prosecutor Michael Bunch says there is clear evidence Stroud “recruited” the male defendants and that they went to the scene as a “team”.
Mr Bunch said: “In a covert recording, she (Stroud) said she was glad Gary Belfield was dead and expressed her disappointment Luke Williams was not.” It was just after 9pm on April 27 this year that a member of the public contacted the emergency services to report a stabbing after Mr Williams staggered towards his garage shouting: “Help me, they are going to get me”.
He had suffered stab wounds to his elbow, shoulder, lower back and had sharp force injuries to his hands. Mr Williams told the man he had just ran from his home, nearby, in Elliott Drive, Felling, after being attacked there. He said he was concerned about his dad, who was still inside.
When police went there, they found Mr Belfield lying in the living room slumped on the sofa. He was covered in blood, unresponsive, pale and not breathing, the court heard. He had suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper and lower back, face, head, thigh, the sole of his foot and arms.
The stab wounds to his back had damaged his ribs, lung and liver, while a major artery and vein in his leg were damaged. He also had bruising to both eyes and his forehead. Despite the best efforts of the police and then paramedics, the 40-year-old died at the scene. The judge said Lopes had stabbed him to the thigh with a screwdriver and Tams to the back with a knife.
A month before the attack Tams had said: “I’m getting that f****** mad I want to f****** kill someone”. Stroud had no previous convictions at the time of the murder. Lopes had a caution for assault which happened in January last year. He was also sentenced for separate charges of robbery, assault and fraud today.
Tams has a previous conviction for having a bladed article from January last year. Francis FitzGibbon KC, for Stroud, said: “This is a girl who has been abandoned, let down, abused and exploited by adults almost throughout her life. She said she did not have a childhood.”He added she has PTSD, used cannabis from the age of eight and still denies actively encouraging or assisting the boys.
Mr FitzGibbon said: “Her role must be distinguished from the two males who go in the house with knives and set about the victims with extraordinary violence. There’s no evidence she intended that amount of violence to be inflicted. She was not there.” He said it may be the attack arose from a “misguided desire for revenge” for something she believed had happened to her sister.
Toby Hedworth KC, who was representing Lopes during the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, said of the killers: “They are all, for better or for worse, damaged goods.” Mark McKone KC, who was representing Tams, said: “The main mitigation I rely upon is Jordan’s young age.
“His emotional maturity is consistent with someone younger than 17. He does not have the maturity of a usual 17-year-old. Sadly through no fault of his own, Jordan has been witness to a lot of violence as a child. His social services record makes absolutely tragic reading.”
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