Teen 'left to die alone on stranger's doorstep'

Thomas Hardiman (left) and Xander Howarth (right) were convicted following a 12-day trial

Two men who stabbed a 19-year-old and left him to die "alone on a stranger's doorstep" in Sheffield have been convicted of his murder.

Thomas Hardiman, of Edenhall Road, and Xander Howarth, of Richmond Park View, both 18, had denied murdering Adam Abdul-Basit on 8 May.

The pair, who were 17 at the time of the attack, were found guilty by a jury after a 12-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

They are both due to be sentenced at the same court on 22 December.

Det Ch Insp Phil Etheridge, who led the investigation, said: “This was a horrific and savage attack that has destroyed the lives of three young men from Sheffield.”

Hardiman and Howarth were spotted on CCTV wielding knives as they chased their victim into the front garden of a property on Smelter Wood Road.

Howarth, who was wearing a stab vest and a balaclava, walked towards Mr Abdul-Basit with a machete raised over his head.

Mr Abdul-Basit was trying to free himself from the attack by Howarth and Hardiman when he was fatally wounded.

The two men then ran off leaving their victim with a 15cm deep wound in his chest.

Mr Abdul-Basit dragged himself to a stranger’s front door, but despite emergency medical treatment he could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Howarth and Hardiman were later arrested and charged with murder.

Adam Abdul-Basit was found with critical injuries and died at the scene in Smelter Wood Road

Mr Etheridge said the pair had both left their homes "armed with a knife before plunging it into Adam's chest and leaving him to die in a stabbing that happened in broad daylight down a residential street.

"They must now face the prospect of spending a considerable length of time behind bars, while Adam's family must deal with the unimaginable pain and grief of knowing he will never be able to fulfil his dreams after his life was cut short in barbaric fashion,

"He died all alone on a stranger's doorstep while his attackers showed complete cowardice in fleeing the scene and trying to evade justice."

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