A gang member has been jailed after stabbing him to death in broad daylight while shouting ‘die, die, die’.
Dellan Charles, 24, was sentenced today to a minimum of 23 years in jail at Kingston Crown Court for the murder of Sean O’Neill, 23.
In CCTV footage, Charles can be seen chasing Mr O’Neill through quiet residential streets in Hayes, west London on May 18, 2023 following an altercation between rival gangs.
After cornering him, Charles used two knives to stab his victim multiple times as he screamed ‘die, die, die’.
The killer was then caught on separate footage calmly walking away,before escaping by trespassing through people’s gardens.
During Charles’s murder trial, the jury head how he disposed of a knife at a nearby address, before fleeing the area and disappearing for just shy of a year.
Over the course of the next ten months, police detectives pieced together the course of events, while conducting an extensive man hunt.
Charles was eventually found and arrested in Coventry on March 27 last year and convicted of murder on December 17.
The jury heard how Mr O’Neill was a funny, kind and sociable person and that many people have been deeply affected by his tragic death.
Detective Inspector Kevin Martin, who led the investigation for Specialist Crime South, said: ‘Myself and the team once again pay tribute to Sean’s family who, throughout this distressing time, have shown real strength and togetherness.
Latest London news
- Map shows where traffic will be banned on Camden High Street
- Inside the London trauma clinic helping vulnerable women survive
- Warning to Londoners as TfL fare increase comes into effect on Sunday
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro’s London news hub.
‘Heartbreakingly, nothing will ever bring Sean back, but today, the man responsible for taking him away from his much-loved family has been forced to face the reality of his malicious actions.’
Sean’s family said in a statement: ‘We really appreciate the efforts of the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing about justice, as well as the support we have received throughout this difficult process.
‘Sean will be remembered for his big heart, charming smile and fun-loving personality. He is incredibly loved by us all and we miss him every day.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
