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Two men guilty of murder following street stabbing

Thames Valley Police Mugshots of Ryan Byrne and George Stephens. Byrne, on the left, has a bird tattoo on the neck. Stephens, on the right, is wearing a green hoodie.Thames Valley Police
Ryan Byrne (l) and George Stephens (r) travelled to Oxford to meet Tobias Bruce on 25 February

Two men have been found guilty of murder after a fatal stabbing in Oxford earlier this year.

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

Following a two-and-a-half-week trial, a jury has found Ryan Byrne, 35, of Hathaway Green Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, and George Stephens, aged 28, of no fixed abode, unanimously guilty of one count each of murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

They are due to be sentenced on 24 October at Oxford Crown Court.

Family handout Tobias Bruce from the shoulders up. He's wearing a dark red jumper and has dark short hair and facial hair. He is smiling for the camera while sat in a restaurant or bar.Family handout
Tobias Bruce suffered five stab wounds, to the right side of his neck, cheek and right shoulder

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

The meeting was 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, before being fatally injured.

He suffered 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.

On 2 April, Byrne boarded a ferry to the Netherlands but was refused entry at the border.

He travelled back to the UK the following day where he was arrested on 4 April and was charged four days later.

Stephens, who by this time was serving time in prison for an unrelated offence, was arrested on 11 April and was charged the following day.

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Stuart May extended sympathies to the families of Mr Bruce and his friend.

He said they had been "patient and dignified" throughout the investigation and court process.

“We are continuing our investigation to locate Theodore Mullings-Fairweather who remains outstanding in connection with this investigation," he added.

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