Two teenagers and a man have been found guilty of killing a father with an array of machetes and zombie knives as he left a KFC drive-thru with his son.
They were among four people who’d been trying to kill Kelvin Ward’s 19-year-old son, but who turned on his father when the teenager managed to escape from the armed gang.
The four – Tyrone Hollywood, Leighton Williams, Rusharn Williams-Reid, and Aaron Coates, were in a stolen Ford Kuga just before 8pm on 18 April this year.
They spotted Mr Ward, aged 50, getting into a Vaxuhall Corsa driven by his son at KFC on Chester Road in Castle Bromwich.
Hollywood, aged 17, drove the Kuga drove onto the KFC car park and rammed the car carrying Mr Ward and his son.
Mr Ward’s son drove away with his father, but their car was repeatedly rammed until its airbags were let off, forcing it to stop.
Mr Ward’s son fled as the gang from the Kuga shouted: “Get him now, keep chasing. Kill him, everyone kill him.”
He was chased by Hollywood, along with Williams and Williams-Reid, but managed to escape with the help of a man on an e-bike.
Mr Ward jumped into the gang’s Kuga and drove in the direction which his son had run off in. He drove the vehicle at Hollywood, but missed and crashed into railings.
Hollywood was handed a machete or zombie knife by Coates. Hollywood and Leighton Williams were then caught on CCTV stabbing Mr Ward. He suffered a fatal wound to the heart. Hollywood struck Mr Ward again as he lay dying in the road.
A major investigation was launched which identified the gang based on witness statements, CCTV, clothing, DNA and fingerprint evidence, as well as mobile phone usage.
Our investigation revealed how Mr Ward’s son had been friends with some of the attackers, but they had fallen out. Mr Ward’s family home had been attacked in the days before the killing.
Det Supt Shaun Edwards, head of our Homicide department, said: “This is an absolutely horrific attack on a man who was simply going about his day, ordering a takeaway with his son.
“You can see from the video evidence the ruthless determination that the attackers had as they chase down Mr Ward and his son, and ultimately kill Mr Ward.
“Our investigation was absolutely painstaking, and was able to place the defendants at the scene.”
At Coventry Crown Court today, Hollywood was convicted of murder alongside Williams, aged 28, of Horne Way, Birmingham.
Coates, 18, of Sydney Way, Shard End, was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Williams-Reid, 18, of Orchard Meadow Walk, Castle Vale, was cleared of murder and manslaughter.
All four were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Mr Ward’s son.
Mr Ward’s partner, Tammy, said: “Kelvin was the love of my life. He was a fantastic partner, father, son, brother and good friend to many. He always put himself out for other people and if anyone needed a job doing or shoulder to cry on, he’d be there.
“He was very unique and there was never a dull moment when he was around. He was funny, the life and soul of a party, he worked hard to provide for his family, he had so much more to live for and loved life.
“We didn’t even get to say goodbye instead we got to watch videos of his last moments which was horrific.
“To see the man I love stabbed by savage people then left to die like ‘road kill’ dumped on a road is disgraceful and no one should have to go through that.
“The measure of how good a man is, is by how many people turned up at his funeral. There was estimated to be 500 people and Kelvin had a special connection with each one who attended.
“The church was so full that people stood outside.
“Knife crime is a huge problem in the UK. We hear about it every day. The levels of violence are increasing and this is why we need longer sentences on those caught with knives or machetes.
“It’s our news today and could be yours tomorrow. We need to send a message to the young people that life is not a computer game, but it appears that this is exactly what the younger generation are treating life as. It appears that they believe they have the authority to decide on someone’s fate?”
Sentencing is due to take place in January next year.