Killers jailed for failed jewellery exchange murder

Ryan Byrne (l) and George Stephens (r) travelled to Oxford to meet Tobias Bruce on 25 February

Two men have been jailed for life for killing a man over a failed watch and jewellery exchange.

Tobias Bruce, 32, was found with multiple stab wounds in College Lane, Littlemore, on 25 February, and died in hospital three days later.

Ryan Byrne, 35, of Hathaway Green Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, was jailed for a minimum of 25 years and George Stephens, aged 28, of no fixed abode, for a minimum of 22-and-a-half years for the attack.

The pair had previously been found unanimously guilty of one count each of murder and grievous bodily harm with intent after a two-and-a-half-week trial at Oxford Crown Court.

Both men will also serve sentences for grievous bodily harm alongside their murder convictions - with Byrne serving six years, and Stephens seven.

Stephens was also sentenced concurrently for drug offences.

The pair remained emotionless in the dock whilst their sentences were passed down, before waving and blowing kisses to family members as they were escorted out.

Family members in the public gallery were visibly emotional, with some crying and talking to the pair whilst Stephens and Byrne were taken out of the court room.

Tobias Bruce suffered five stab wounds, to the right side of his neck, cheek and right shoulder

Overseeing the sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle KC, told the court that the family of Tobias Bruce had suffered "an appalling loss".

He said Stephens and Byrne had been in possession of knives "in case any trouble broke out" at the exchange between the two groups.

"The confrontation could have been avoided, but it tragically was not."

Judge Pringle said that it had only been the "courageous intervention" of a nearby witness that had "brought the attack to an end".

He added that of the six people involved in the incident, the trial had only taken place with the two defendants.

The court had previously heard heard that Stephens and Byrne had met with Mr Bruce, alongside two friends, to sell a Cartier watch and some jewellery.

The meeting had been cordial at first as the watch and jewellery were produced but after inspecting the items, Mr Bruce made off, with the intent of stealing them.

He was pursued by Byrne and another man, but was soon caught and acknowledged this before offering to hand the items back.

He was then fatally injured by five stab wounds, to the right side of his neck, cheek and right shoulder.

Mr Bruce’s friends were pursued by Stephens, who stabbed one of them to the side.

A Home Office post-mortem confirmed that the cause of Mr Bruce’s death was multiple sharp force injuries.

The knives that caused the injuries were never recovered.

Thames Valley Police is continuing to search for another man, who is believed to have left the country, in connection with the attack.