Leon Barrett-Hazle murder: Man given life sentence over bus stabbing
A man who stabbed a fellow passenger at least 16 times on the top deck of a bus has been found guilty and will serve a minimum of 26 years in prison.
Leon Barrett-Hazle, aged 35, from Smethwick, died after being stabbed while travelling on the No 11A bus in Rookery Road, Handsworth on January 23 this year.
Defendant Kieran Maclean Gillespie was convicted on Thursday of his murder following a week and a half long trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Gillespie, aged 26, from Wellesbourne Road, Handsworth, sentenced to life in prison. He must serve a minimum of 26 years before he can be considered for release.
Detective Inspector Warren Hines, of West Midlands Police, said: “This was a completely mindless killing of a man who had done nothing out of the ordinary, the ferocity of the attack coupled with Gillespie’s nonchalant actions in the immediate aftermath were particularly troubling aspects of this case.
"My abiding hope is that Leon’s family find some small comfort in today’s conviction and that the people of Birmingham feel reassured that a really dangerous, unstable individual is off the streets."
Mr Barrett-Hazle’s family paid tribute saying they had been left devastated by the loss of a ‘wonderful, warm, kind, generous of heart and much loved’ family man.
The attack was captured on CCTV cameras installed on the bus.
Gillespie had got on the No 11A bus at Perry Barr and went upstairs, where Mr Barrett-Hazle was already sat, the court heard.
He sat opposite and some words were exchanged, before Gillespie moved to sit two rows behind him.
Further words were exchanged and Gillespie got out of his seat and went up to Mr Barrett-Hazle, where there was a short argument before Gillespie stabbed the victim multiple times.
Gillespie then walked off the bus, while other passengers ran to Mr Barrett-Hazle’s aid and alerted the driver.
Gillespie then walked back onto the bus to retrieve his baseball bat, before walking away once more.
Despite emergency CPR given to the victim at the scene, he died from his injuries.
A post mortem revealed the fatal stab wound was to his neck.
Police immediately launched a major man hunt and released CCTV images of the offender who had been caught on CCTV installed on the bus.
As a result Gillespie was quickly identified and on January 25 handed himself into police.
