A KILLER schoolgirl, 15, who recruited teens to help her murder a man in his own home has been unmasked.
Chilling CCTV showed the masked gang fleeing the scene after brutally stabbing a father and son in their Gateshead living room on April 27 last year.
Northumbria PoliceKriesha Stroud was jailed for life after orchestrating the murder of a man in his own home[/caption]
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Chilling CCTV showed the masked gang fleeing the gruesome scene[/caption]
Northumbria PoliceGary Belfield was stabbed to death in front of his son in their own home[/caption]
Kriesha Beyonce Stroud, 15, was convicted of murder after the horror, which was sparked over a dog row.
Gary Belfield, 40, died after being knifed 11 times, while his son Luke Williams, 21, managed to escape with stab wounds to a nearby petrol station.
He survived the cold-blooded attack after flagging down help.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Leandro Lopes, then 17, and Jordan Tams, 17, were enlisted by Stroud to help.
The teens were also convicted of murder last month after a trial.
Stroud was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years, while Tams and Lopes must serve at least 26 years.
It is believed the heinous killing unfolded after Stroud wanted to get a dog back that previously belonged to one of her relatives and now lived with Mr Belfield.
At the start of the sentence hearing today, Mr Justice Constable lifted the restrictions which banned the identification of Tams, of Westley Court, Felling, and Stroud, of Eastcote Terrace, Walker.
Justice Constable said the murder was: “Shocking, not just for its brutality and senselessness but because it was encouraged and carried out by three who were, at the time of the killing, children.”
The judge told Stroud: “This centred around the retrieval of a dog which you believed belonged to your half sister, following her relationship with Gary.”
He warned the killer trio if they “remain a danger” they “may never be released”.
Prosecutor Peter Moulson KC told jurors at the start of the trial Stroud told Tams and Lopes they should “stab the c***”.
The court heard Stroud bragged she’d watched the murder as “they stabbed him to bits” through the window.
But it was later proved she would not have been able to witness the attack and had been lying.
Stroud also claimed in conversations about Mr Williams running for help, his “guts were hanging out and everything, urgh”.
Mr Moulson said: “This is not a young girl shouting her mouth off and making fanciful remarks, it can surely be no coincidence she was saying those things and in fact they were stabbed at a time she was outside the house.”
The prosecutor told the court how Mr Williams was shouting “help they’re going to get me” as he ran for his life to a garage near by.
An employee raised the alarm after he saw the 21-year-old “covered in blood”.
It was later discovered Mr Williams had stab wounds to his left elbow, two to the back of his shoulder, one to his lower back with underlying bone damage to the spine and one sharp force injury to his left, upper cheek.
Mr Moulson added: “Mr Williams went on to say he had just ran from his home address after being attacked and stabbed inside that address.
“Mr Williams said he was concerned for his father, who was still inside those premises when he made good his escape. He was also worried the people who had attacked him might still be present.”
The court heard how cops found Mr Belfield “pale, unresponsive and not breathing”.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the 40-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post mortem examination showed Mr Belfield had been stabbed in the head, face, thigh, sole of his foot and both of his upper arms.
He had five stab wounds to the back, which had damaged his ribs, lung and liver.
A major artery and vein in his right thigh was also punctured.
His heartbroken son told police they had been at the pub before coming back home to enjoy some fish and chips the night of the tragedy.
He said after they finished eating they planned to go back out but the masked gang stormed into the house.
Mr Moulson said: “Mr Williams was ahead of his father in their route towards going out of the premises.
“However, when Mr Williams got to the doorway of the sitting room which leads to the hallway he saw two men in the hallway.
“One approached Mr Wiliams and struck him in the face. Mr Williams said he was then stabbed in the upper arm and his left upper side.
“Mr Williams turned away and was stabbed in the back.”
The court heard while Mr Williams was being attacked, he could see another male was stabbing his father.
He heard his dad “screaming in pain” and witnessed him “lying on the floor with his arm and legs up”, the court heard.
“Mr Williams was forced to leave his father in those premises in order to avoid being attacked further and to try and get help,” the prosecutor added.
When the 21-year-old escaped, he saw Stroud outside but Mr Moulson told jurors she had “a major part in orchestrating this attack”.
The prosecution argued Stroud was “just as guilty as the two men who went into the house” due to her “organisation of this attack”.
Francis Fitzgibbon KC, defending Stroud, said the 15-year-old, who used cannabis from the age of 8, grew up “without boundaries”.
She had witnessed and experienced violence in her past, he said.
Stroud, who still denies actively encouraging or assisting in the murder, told people herself she had “no childhood” and used cannabis as a “coping mechanism”.
Mr Fitzgibbon said since Stroud has been in custody on remand, she has experienced “structure, routine, authority over her, warmth, regular meals and education.”
Toby Hedworth KC, defending Lopes, said: “They are all, for better or for worse, damaged goods.”
Mr Hedworth told the court Lopes, who had a “dreadful upbringing”, came to the UK from Portugal, speaking very little English and was bullied.
Mark McKone KC, defending Tams, said the teen witnessed violence as a child and added: “If he had had a better and fairer start in life he is someone who could have made a life for himself.”
Northumbria PoliceLeandro Lopes must serve a minimum of 26 years behind bars[/caption]
Northumbria PoliceJordan Tams also must serve at least 26 years[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
