A gang of masked killers who cornered a man before stabbing him to death have been jailed for a combined total of more than a century.
Dale Martin, 21, was dragged out of his car and murdered in Derby on June 15 last year after the gang – armed with knives and machetes riding a moped and electric bikes – blocked his vehicle.
Jayden Mannion-Roberts, Keenan Hamblett, Ki Grant-Finlayson, Shaylon McCalla, Kelci Thompson and Kayin Holmes fled the scene after stabbing Mr Martin and shouting ‘kill him’.
Mr Martin staggered away from the scene of the attack before he collapsed and died.
Jayden Mannion-Roberts was found guilty of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years.
Ki Grant-Finlayson and Keenan Hamblett were arrested before boarding a flight to Tunisia days after the murder.
Both were convicted of manslaughter.
Grant-Finlayson was jailed for 18 years while Hamblett was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.
Dale Martin, also known as DJ, was stabbed to death by a gang of masked attackers in June last year
Footage showed his killers ambushing him after they blocked his car
They had ridden electric bikes into the road to stop Mr Martin’s Renault Megane ‘in a show of force’, the court heard
Kelci Thompson, Shaylon McCalla and Kayin Holmes were also found guilty of manslaughter.
The attack on Mr Martin came after a history of ‘animosity’ between two rival groups in the Sinfin, Allerton and Osmaston areas and two ‘tit for tat’ confrontations earlier that weekend, the court heard.
Mr Martin had gone to a gender-reveal party that evening before being attacked around 11.45pm.
His Renault Megane was stopped by the gang’s electric bikes, which were in the road ‘in a show of force’.
Adrian Langdale KC, prosecuting, said the gang had armed themselves with swords, machetes and ‘Rambo knives’.
They chased Mr Martin after he escaped but tripped on a piece of wood, attacking him ‘like a pack of animals’ according to a witness.
Temporary Detective Inspector Chris Wright, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said: ‘The killing of Dale Martin was a planned, sustained, and brutal attack.
‘The group had set out that night with the intention of causing Dale serious harm – and they carried out their wishes armed with knives and machetes.
‘Dale was pulled from a car, chased and fatally stabbed multiple times.
Jayden Mannion-Roberts was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years
Ki Grant-Finlayson and Keenan Hamblett were arrested before boarding a flight to Tunisia days after the murder
‘All those convicted in relation to this offence were happy to use really serious violence in a residential street, with no concern for the harm they would cause, or the worry they would generate in the community.
‘The investigation into this crime would not have been possible without the help of the public and I would like to thank them for their support – their assistance was vital in gathering the evidence to bring those responsible to justice.
‘I also want to thank Dale’s family for their support during what has been a long journey to get to court – and then an extended trial which has included distressing information that no family should have to hear.
‘Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the investigation team and wider force. The response to this incident covered almost every area of the force – on both a direct and indirect level.’
DI Wright told the BBC Mr Martin’s attackers had ‘surrounded him’ and ‘behaved like a pack of animals’.
‘I was extremely horrified by it, it’s nothing I’ve seen before in my career, the repeated slashing, stabbing, chopping motions.
‘It’s thankfully something we don’t see on the streets of Derby often, it’s shocking.’
