Two women murder man, 60, after falsely accusing him of being a paedophile
Two women who filmed themselves torturing and kicking their elderly neighbour because they believed he was a paedophile have been jailed.
Zoe Rider, 36, and Nicola Lethbridge, 45, carried out the ‘sadistic’ attack against Stephen Koszyczarski, 60, at his home in Sheffield, on August 9 last year.
Footage was played during the opening of the trial at Sheffield Crown Court where Rider and Lethbridge can be heard hurling abuse at Mr Koszyczarski.
One said: ‘Dirty, f****** wrong ‘un…Having his f****** balls cut off. Where’s the knife, where’s the scissors gone? Little f****** n***e that abusing little girls aren’t you Steve?’
Another could then be heard to say: ‘Aren’t you Steve?’ While the other added: ‘Not even denying it you f****** c***.’
As the footage played, one of the defendants could be heard saying: ‘Wipe your f****** face.’ Mr Koszyczarski replied: ‘I can’t stop bleeding.’ One woman then said: “Do you think I give a f***?’
The women had no evidence Mr Koszyczarski was a paedophile and South Yorkshire Police uncovered no wrongdoing.
Prosecutor Andrew O’Byrne KC said Mr Koszyczarski lived alone and was described as a ‘collector’.
He went to a cafe on the day of his murder and the cafe owner said she was concerned because he was short of money so she gave him £55.
Mr O’Byrne said: ‘During the course of the conversation, he complained he wasn’t getting much sleep because people in his block were making a lot of noise and disturbing him.’
He was captured on CCTV that night but at 11.20pm pressed a button on a lanyard that activated an alarm used for assistance for those with health issues.
Mr O’Byrne said: ‘He spoke to an operator and asked for assistance. He told them he had been attacked and was bleeding.’
Female voices were heard in the background of the call and he was taken to hospital but later died.
A video of the assault was found on the women’s mobile phones as well as Mr Koszyczarski’s blood on the jogging bottoms of one of the women.
Mr Koszyczarski ‘died as a consequence of a sustained and blunt-force physical assault and haemorrhage of the skull’.
He had injuries to his head and neck, bruises to his ear, eyes, cheeks and lips and bruising to his chest that were ‘most likely caused by kicks’.
Lethbridge and Rider were found guilty of murder and robbery and have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on June 5.
Speaking after the guilty verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward said: ‘Stephen was described as a quiet man. Although he had a close circle of friends, he kept himself to himself and just went about his business. He didn’t cause any problems or hurt anyone and his death was callous.
‘Lethbridge and Rider had not only subjected Stephen to mental torture and physical abuse but they humiliated him during the attack wrongly accusing him of being a paedophile which was simply not the case.
‘I am pleased with the jury’s verdict and the fact that these two will now spend a significant amount of years in prison.
‘The community has been a huge support throughout our investigation, and I would like to thank those who showed bravery, taking a stand against criminals living in their communities, and providing witness statements and evidence.
‘The support of the public, along with the hardworking officers on my team and police colleagues have ensured justice for Stephen.
‘Although the guilty verdicts bring comfort that justice has been served, this remains a sad day because it is another reminder for everyone how violence can quickly end a life too soon, which impacts greatly on all those involved, and leaves family and friends with pain and holes in their lives.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.