Teenager given life term for murder of Wolverhampton man on Christmas Day

Trey Johnson died in the early hours of December 25 last year after he was stabbed in the chest by Richard Beckles in Burcot Avenue, Eastfields, during the second of two confrontations the same night.

The 30-year-old, nicknamed Gaza, collapsed after being chased by brothers Richard and Tiego Beckles just 30 minutes after they beat him up outside a city nightspot in Exchange Street over rumours he sold cocaine to their mother.

The brothers launched a brutal attack on him that lasted around eight minutes. He was punched and kicked several times and sustained serious injuries including a fracture to his left eye socket.

After the attack, the brothers left in a Peugeot SUV and headed back to their family’s address on Burcot Avenue. Mr Johnson got into his vehicle and headed towards the same address.

As the brothers pulled up outside, they spotted Mr Johnson. Richard Beckles got out of the vehicle and was captured on CCTV footage chasing after him with a large knife.

Tiego Beckles recovered a large weapon from his address before following on behind his brother who caught up with the victim and inflicted a fatal stab wound to his chest.

He was declared dead by paramedics at the scene soon after. By this time, both Richard and Tiego Beckles had fled the scene.

Today (September 29) Richard Beckles, 19, was sentenced to life in custody with a minimum term of 22 years for his murder while Tiego Beckles, aged 21, was jailed for eight years for manslaughter at a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Sentencing them Judge Michael Chambers said: “All these offences arise from two linked incidents. Having heard all the evidence at trial I’m satisfied so as to be sure that this was about drug dealers settling differences in public places without concern for the impact on the public.

“Both of you have recent convictions for supplying class A. It’s tragic that Trey Johnson was also involved in the supply of drugs.

“There was evidence on the mobile phones recovered and the police also found a large quantity of cocaine in his vehicle.

“The reason for the dispute matters not. The perception of the public and the court is that it was a drug dispute settled on the streets of Wolverhampton and that is an aggravating factor.

“The public is always concerned because cases like this are tragic for all concerned.“

“Trey Johnson was only 30. The court has heard the victim impact statement of his mother.

“The impact on the family has been profound. He has been described as a man with many positive attributes. He was a father and has been lost to his children.

“No sentence I impose can put the clock back or should be seen as an attempt to put a value on human life.”

The father-of-two was killed during the second of two violent episodes which occurred within a short space of time in the early hours of Christmas Day.

He was captured on CCTV outside DeFusion in Exchange Street arguing with the brothers who approached him in the car park.

The exchange escalated into a fight during which the judge said he was punched, kicked and stamped on by the defendants. It was during this incident that he suffered a fracture to the orbit of his left eye and bruising to the side of his head.

As a result the pair were charged with assaulting him in what the judge described as a “vicious and sustained assault”.

The brothers left the scene at 3.05am heading to heir sister’s home by car.

The victim left in his Audi at 3.09am arriving outside the Beckles family home in Burcot Avenue in Eastfields within minutes.

The judge said he passed their home at slow speed then turned round before turning once more pulling up nearby. He said phone records showed that the mother of the defendants Janine Beckles made contact with her sons, telling them that the Audi was outside.

The pair drove to Burcot Avenue where Richard Beckles removed a large knife from his clothing and used the handle to smash one of the Audi windows.

Mr Johnson got out of his car to remonstrate, but was captured on CCTV running down the street pursued by the attackers.

The judge said: “Richard Beckles I’m satisfied that you were intent on causing harm to Trey Johnson. You Teigo Beckles ran into the house where you knew there was a baseball bat by the front door. You then join in the pursuit.

“I’m quite satisfied on the verdict of the jury that you Tiego Beckles knew that Richard Beckles had the knife and were aware of the stabbing and that you encouraged the assault as you appeared with the baseball bat.

“In a period of camera, Richard Beckles you smashed a window on the Audi. You stab him to the left of the chest area causing fatal injuries.”

He added that Richard Beckles was seen trying stab him again, but Tiego Beckles ceased giving chase.

The court heard that the murderer realising the “gravity” of his actions used his own t-shirt to try to stem the bleeding and helped Mr Johnson to walk back towards their home, but he collapsed to the ground.

Richard Beckles and Tiego Beckles were found guilty of murder and manslaughter respectively following a trial in August.

They were also both found guilty of wounding Mr Johnson relating to the assault in the city centre.

Richard Beckles was found guilty of possession of a knife while Tiego Beckles pleaded guilty to possession of a baseball bat ahead of the start of the trial.

For his offences Richard Beckles, aged 19, was put in youth detention and will be in custody for at least 22 years.

Tiego Beckles, aged 21, was jailed for a total of eight years.They must also pay the victims’ surcharge of £228.