Drug dealer jailed for murdering man walking dog

Kieran Shepherd ran for his life but did not manage to flee his attackers, a judge said

A drug dealer who murdered a man walking his dog has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years.

Zack O'Keeffe stabbed Kieran Shepherd, 30, in the back after chasing him along Meadgate Avenue in Great Baddow, near Chelmsford, on 15 October 2024.

The 20-year-old was joined in his pursuit by Joseph Dawe, 21, and Harrison Carpenter, 20, who were found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 11 years and 10-and-a-half years respectively at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Judge Christopher Morgan said they were acting in revenge after Mr Shepherd, who was a dad-of-one, robbed O'Keeffe at knifepoint a few weeks prior to his death.

"Unable to report matters to the police, you decided to seek retribution when the opportunity arose," he told the trio in the dock.

"CCTV footage showed him making a desperate attempt to outrun the three of you - he was quite literally running for his life."

Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, said the friends were "acting as a team" and all knew O'Keeffe was armed with a knife, which she said had a blade as long as 30cm (12in).

CCTV footage captured the men, who called themselves the three musketeers, chasing Mr Shepherd at 12:24 BST.

A woman who dialled 999 and described seeing the trio in balaclavas said: "I'm just a bit shaken up, I haven't seen anything like that."

Dawe tackled Mr Shepherd to the ground, leading to him being punched by Carpenter and then stabbed twice in the back by O'Keeffe, the court heard.

After the stabbing, the group burned their clothes and hid overnight at a holiday park in Jaywick.

Carpenter, of Ben Wilson Link, Chelmsford, handed himself in to police the following day but refused to answer any of the officers' questions.

Dawe, of Greenland Gardens, Great Baddow, and O'Keeffe, of Stafford Green, Langdon Hills, were located on 18 October.

Harrison Carpenter, Joseph Dawe and Zach O'Keeffe (pictured from left to right) were branded evil by Mr Shepherd's mother

Confronting the killers in court, Mr Shepherd's mother, Julie Thomas, said: "My son had his struggles, but he was kind and caring and always made people laugh.

"He never deserved to have his life taken in such a terrible way. He was murdered callously and evilly - he was left to die."

His father added: "I mourn not just the loss of my son, but also the moments we will never get to share."

Judge Morgan said their lives had been "shattered" by the offending and that Mr Shepherd had been defenceless.

"You took the life of Kieran Shepherd who, despite his drug addiction, had his whole life ahead of him," he said to them.

Flowers were left close to the scene where Mr Shepherd was murdered in Meadgate Avenue

O'Keeffe was also sentenced after admitting possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of a baton.

His barrister, Michael Borrelli KC, said Mr Shepherd had a "habit of robbing drug suppliers at knifepoint" and O'Keeffe was cautious of this.

"He got a thrill from doing it," said Mr Borrelli, quoting evidence given by Mr Shepherd's partner during the trial.

Mitigating for Carpenter, Allan Compton KC said the 20-year-old made a "reckless and stupid decision" to join the pursuit and that he was angry at O'Keeffe for using a knife.

"He told me he hates himself for his involvement," added Jeremy Wainwright KC on behalf of Dawe.