Sentencing over the murder of Tobias Bruce
The 32-year-old from Oxford was fatally stabbed
Two men were convicted just over a week ago in connection with the death of Tobias Bruce in Littlemore, Oxford.
Ryan Byrne, aged 35, of Hathaway Green Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, and George Stephens, aged 28, of no fixed abode, were both found guilty by unanimous jury verdict of one count each of murder and section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent.
They will serve a life term, with Byrne sentenced to 25 years and 162 days. Stephens was given a 22 and a half years sentence.
It was in February when George Stephens, Ryan Byrne and another man travelled from Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon to Oxford to meet with Tobias Bruce, alongside two of his friends, to sell a Cartier watch and some jewellery.
After relations turned sour between the group, Bruce had made off with the items.
He was pursued by Ryan Byrne and another man, before being fatally stabbed.
Tobias Bruce’s friends were pursued by George Stephens, who stabbed one of them.
A Home Office post-mortem later confirmed that the cause of Mr Bruce’s death was multiple sharp force injuries.
Both Byrne and Stephens were charged in April, with a trial taking place this month at Oxford Crown Court.