Man found guilty over 'cold-blooded killing'

Clifford Alvarez was identified as the man on a bike who prevented Junior Osborne's escape

A sixth man has been found guilty over a "brutal, cold-blooded killing" in a planned attack.

Junior Osborne died from a single stab wound to his neck in Leicester in September 2023.

Five teenagers - including 16-year-old twins - were jailed in June last year for their part in the 50-year-old's death.

At Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday, Clifford Alvarez, of Neston Gardens in Leicester, was found guilty of murder.

During a trial in May 2024, Nero McLean, 16, was convicted of murder.

His brother Nevardo McLean, Theobald Budzwa, Moises Steiner and James Williams - all aged 16 to 18 - were found guilty of manslaughter.

Mr Osborne was stabbed to death as he cycled along Narborough Road

The trial was shown CCTV of the group together before, during and after Mr Osborne was fatally stabbed as he cycled along Narborough Road at 21:30 BST on 27 September.

An older man on a pushbike with the group stopped in front of Mr Osborne as he tried to ride away, allowing Nero McLean to strike the fatal blow.

This man was unidentified when the trial began, despite Leicestershire Police investigations and a public appeal with a £20,000 reward for information by Crimestoppers.

An appeal by Crimestoppers had failed to lead police to Alvarez

But evidence given at the trial named 45-year-old Alvarez with a nickname of DJ, which led officers to him.

Alvarez, also known as Cliffy, denied the nickname but a trial found him guilty of his involvement in the killing.

He was also found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.

Alvarez is due to be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Mark Parish, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, praised the "perseverance" of his team and said: "I hope this provides some reassurance to our community that we will always seek to bring those responsible for such awful acts to justice."