Man jailed for stranger murder of father of two

Reece Connor was a "hands-on" father to two "beautiful boys", his partner said

A teenager who stabbed a father of two to death on Christmas Day has been jailed for at least 19 years.

Kersharn Dockeray-Barnett, who was 17 at the time, murdered 29-year-old Reece Connor following a disagreement between the two of them in an underpass in Nottingham.

A trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard the two of them had not known each other before the altercation.

Despite this, Dockeray-Barnett decided to take revenge by confronting him a short time later.

Dockeray-Barnett, who is now 18, was convicted of murder and given a life sentence.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told him he must serve a minimum of 19 years before he is eligible to apply for parole.

"You have deprived his partner of the love she had known since she was 13, and you have deprived two boys of their father," the judge said.

"She and they had to learn of the devastating news on Boxing Day, which should be a day of family togetherness."

Kersharn Dockeray-Barnett was 17 when he committed the murder

The trial heard the murder happened in Wollaton Road on the evening of 25 December 2023.

The two men had come face to face in the Crown Island underpass, having entered from opposite ends.

They both left following their disagreement, but Mr Connor returned to the area a short time later.

By this time, Dockeray-Barnett had asked friends to come to the scene.

'Nothing short of fantasy'

These included his foster cousin, 24-year-old Morgan Keaton-Adlam, who also went on trial accused of murder, but was cleared by the jury.

The defendant had claimed he stabbed his victim in self-defence.

The judge described the claim that the victim himself picked up the knife, after finding it in a bush, as "nothing short of fantasy".

"I can be sure that you took the knife to the scene intending to use it as a weapon, and on your own account, you used it in a manner which killed," she said.

The trial previously heard Mr Connor died from a single stab wound to the chest.

The defendant was convicted and sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court

Mr Connor's partner read out a statement during the sentencing hearing, in which she described him as a dedicated father.

"We had two beautiful boys and he was such a good father to them both," she said.

"He was very hands-on and would make time for them, even after doing 12-hour shifts.

"The children will grow up with a different perspective on Christmas. I'm dreading Christmas time this year, so much so I feel like leaving the country as I can't face it."

Speaking about her children, she said: "I'm dreading the day when they ask 'where's my dad and how did he die?' Questions no parent should have to answer."

'Appalling violence'

The judge said the most important feature in mitigation was the defendant's age.

She also took into account Dockeray-Barnett's difficult childhood - which included going into foster care after seeing his mother being a victim of domestic violence.

"It is right to say your background has been the most difficult background," the judge said.

"You have witnessed violence at a young age and you have experienced the care system."

Following the sentencing, Det Insp Clare Gibson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This was a tragic case that cost a man his life and robbed two young boys of their father.

"We may never know what happened between these two men in the nearby underpass, but it certainly didn't justify the appalling violence that followed.

"As this case comes to a close, my thoughts and those of the many detectives involved, remain with Reece's family and friends."