Men sentenced for murder of dad killed in Birmingham machete attack
Warning: Contains footage some viewers may find upsetting. CCTV footage shows the moments before and after Kelvin Ward, 50, was killed in a machete attack.
Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a dad who was fatally stabbed after his car was rammed as he left a KFC drive-thru with his son in Birmingham.
Kelvin Ward, 50, was attacked with machetes and zombie knives by Tyrone Hollywood, 17, and Leighton Williams, 29, after his son’s car was continuously rammed in a busy road in Castle Bromwich.
They were among four people who’d been trying to kill Mr Ward’s 19-year-old son after a falling out, but turned on his father when the teenager managed to escape from the armed gang by commandeering a nearby electric bicycle.
The four – Tyrone Hollywood, 17, Leighton Williams, 29, Rusharn Williams-Reid, 18, and Aaron Coates, 18, - were in a stolen Ford Kuga just before 8.00pm on 18 April 2023.
They spotted Mr Ward getting into a Vauxhall Corsa driven by his son at KFC on Chester Road.
Hollywood drove the Ford Kuga into 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 - who suffered a fatal wound to the heart.
Hollywood struck Mr Ward again as he lay dying in the road.
Warning: This CCTV footage of the attack contains scenes that some viewers may find upsetting.
Hollywood and Williams were found guilty of Mr Ward's murder, following a trial at Coventry Crown Court in November 2023.
Coates was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, while Williams-Reid was cleared of murder and manslaughter.
All four were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Mr Ward's son.
Passing sentence on the first anniversary of the murder, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said she was sure that Leighton Williams stabbed Mr Ward in the heart and that Hollywood then stood over and “taunted” the victim.
Although Mr Ward’s son is thought to have been the original intended victim, the judge added: “This was a planned attack. The defendants were not randomly driving around. They were prepared to use lethal violence.”
Tyrone Hollywood has been sentenced to life in prison for murder with a minimum of 19 years, with 10 years for conspiracy to murder will run concurrently.
Leighton Williams, 29, has also been sentenced to life in prison for murder, with a minimum of 29 years, alongside a concurrent life sentence for conspiracy to murder with a minimum of 12 years.
Rusharn Williams-Reid, 18, has been handed a 13.5 year sentence for conspiracy to murder in a young offenders institute. He will serve nine years before can be considered on licence.
Aaron Coates, 18, has been sentenced to 21 years in a young offenders institute for conspiracy to murder and manslaughter, with at least 14 years before he's eligible for licence.
Explaining the sentences passed on three of the defendants, the judge told the court: “There are no second chances when someone is stabbed to death – not for them and not for the perpetrators.”
The judge said of Mr Ward’s son: “It is no exaggeration to say he was running for his life. He escaped with his life because he came across someone who let him ride on his electric bike.”
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