FedEx murder accused hit 'breaking point', court told

Philip Woodcock was fatally injured on 2 November 2022

A FedEx driver accused of killing his manager had hit "breaking point" on the day of the incident, a court has heard.

Ronald Sekanjako, 49, allegedly stabbed Philip Woodcock, 60, at the depot in Hellaby, Rotherham, on 2 November 2022.

Prosecutors say Mr Sekanjako, of Bellhouse Road, Sheffield, launched the attack over a suspension and pay.

Jason Pitter KC, defending, said his client, who denies murder, had been "desperate" and under "real financial pressure" at the time.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Sekanjako, who chose not to give evidence in court, also pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three counts of possession of an offensive weapon.

During the trial at Sheffield Crown Court this week, prosecutor Katherine Goddard KC told the jury Mr Sekanjako had been suspended from work over an alleged fuel theft.

She said Mr Sekanjako, who was convinced that FedEx had not paid him properly, had accrued a number of debts and had received letters threatening bailiff action.

After being told of his suspension, CCTV footage showed how Mr Sekanjako briefly left the depot in Rother Way but returned a short time later.

Ms Goddard said the defendant then entered the office area, armed with two concealed knives and a hammer hidden in his trouser leg.

FedEx employees giving evidence in court detailed how Mr Sekanjako began to shout, demanding he be paid and warning staff that "there will be a death".

Ms Goddard said company records showed Mr Sekanjako had been paid correctly and that the latest invoice had been settled just an hour before Mr Woodcock's death.

'Breaking point'

During his closing statement on Thursday, Mr Pitter said his client's perception of not being paid correctly had been "genuine".

"He is someone who, on the day in question, had hit a desperation point," Mr Pitter told jurors.

"He was desperate, whatever the system of payment was, whether he had technically been paid or not, he was under real financial pressure at the time.

"We say it is apparent he was at breaking point."

Mr Pitter told the court his client's "fate was sealed" when he learned of his suspension, adding: "It's then that we begin to understand his view that he was being victimised."

According to witness testimony from FedEx employees, Mr Sekanjako had been invited into Mr Woodcock's office to resolve the pay dispute.

The prosecution alleges it was there that Mr Woodcock was stabbed in the heart in front of horrified colleagues.

Emergency services at the scene in Rother Way, Hellaby, where Philip Woodcock suffered fatal injuries

In her closing statement, Ms Goddard told jurors no one at the depot "could have foreseen the tragedy that was to unfold".

She added: "No one except Ronald Sekanjako who, the prosecution say, was determined to confront the managers at that depot to get his own way by whatever means over his perception of being paid late."

Despite efforts to save his life, Mr Woodcock was pronounced dead at 10:38 GMT.

The trial continues.