Three men jailed for 'cold blooded' killing of Sheffield dad
Three men have been jailed for a minimum of 86 years following the death of Grant Bodell who was shot dead in June 2014
Three men have been jailed for killing a 23-year-old Sheffield dad who was shot dead in June 2014.
Grant Bodell was shot at least three times in the early hours of Saturday 21st June in Manor Fields district park.
South Yorkshire Police called it a 'cold blooded' killing and say the three men were brought to justice following a lengthy and complex investigation.
Marvis Smith, 30, and Brendan McFarlane, 22, will serve life for his murder with minimum terms of 38 and 32 years.
Stevin Pierre, 25, was handed a 16 year sentence for manslaughter.
Detective Superintendent David Barraclough, the Senior Investigating officer who led the murder investigation said: “Mr Bodell’s death is a very tragic case that resulted from an incident that took place a few hours earlier that evening when a firearm was discharged outside a club.
“The investigation has been protracted and complex with detectives and officers relentlessly pursuing all lines of enquiry to ensure every aspect was investigated thoroughly for over 18 months.
“My thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Bodell’s family who have remained patient throughout the length of this investigation, and I can only hope the result provides them with some form of comfort knowing that justice has been served.”
The earlier incident occurred on the evening of Friday, 20 June 2014, just hours before the murder took place, when Mr Bodell and his two associates, brothers Christopher and Corrie Allen, were at the Embassy Club on Mansfield Road in Intake.
Just before midnight, the three are seen to leave the club on CCTV. They are then seen to be involved in a heated discussion outside with a larger group.
Det Supt Barraclough added: “The Allens and Mr Bodell left the club after the encounter, which had been captured on CCTV, but returned around half an hour later, with Corrie Allen in possession of a shotgun, in an attempt to intimidate the other group.
“The firearm was discharged but thankfully there were no injuries sustained by anyone. However, there is no doubt that this incident was the precursor to the murder of Mr Bodell.”
In the early hours of 21 June, Grant and the Allen brothers were drinking in Manor Fields District Park, when Marvis, of Park Grange Road, Norfolk Park, Brendan, of Hyde Park Terrace, Park Hill and Stevin, of Water slacks Close, Woodhouse, approached the entrance.
Grant was shot at least three times, with the post-mortem examination recording the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.
A large-scale police investigation was launched with thorough forensic examinations of the scene taking place.
This included the incident at the club, which led to the arrest and charge of the Allen brothers for their involvement.
Det Supt Barraclough added: “The complexity of the investigation deepened even further as through covert tactics used to determine who was involved in the murder, it became apparent that Smith and McFarlane, as well as another man, Abdullah Mohammed, were involved in large scale drugs and firearms offences”.
The three men were charged with a number of offences including unlawful possession of a firearm and conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.
Marvis was also charged with threats to kill a man he believed had provided information to the police about the murder of Mr Bodell.
Det Supt Barraclough continued: “The result should serve as a message to anyone who makes the decision to arm themselves with a weapon, regardless of how long it takes, we will identify you and bring you to justice.
In a statement, Grant Bodell’s family said:
“Grant was a loving son, brother and father who was cruelly taken from us in June 2014. Our lives have changed forever and will never be the same again.
“Never will he walk through our door to torment us and make us laugh, the laughter has now gone and there is a piece of our family missing.
“Grant may not have been an angel, but he did not deserve to lose his life in this way. His two young children have been left without a father, his brother and sisters have been left without their best friend and his mum and dad just feel lost without him.”