PAIR BOTH GUILTY OF MURDERING MAN AFTER DISPUTE ABOUT DEBT
Victim, 26, died after being stabbed twice in street
A 29-YEAR-OLD man has been found guilty of murder after a man was stabbed to death on a Stoke-on-trent street.
Anas Chergat, right, died in August last year after being stabbed twice on Sandon Street, Etruria.
Yesterday Richard Street, of no fixed address, was found guilty at Stafford Crown Court.
Alan Martyn, aged 45 and also of no fixed address, had previously pleaded guilty to the killing at a hearing in July.
The court heard an argument had taken place between the men about a debt, and that Martyn had stabbed 26-year-old Anas twice.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “Street had already left the property in Sandon Street, but was exchanging text messages with Martyn, whom he knew to be violent, about debt.
“Martyn and Street also attempted to throw away mobile phones the pair had used.
“Forensic work, as well as painstaking work to connect the mobile phones used, and review of CCTV evidence, placed Street and Martyn at Mr Chergat’s address.”
Both Martyn and Street will now be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Inspector Alan Lyford, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We are glad that these men have now been convicted for the murder of Anas Chergat and hope this brings some comfort to his family who have had to deal with his loss.
“Martyn and Street are dangerous and violent men who were ruthless following an argument over a debt.
“They then took steps to conceal their crime.
“I am also grateful to those witnesses who came forward and allowed us to bring this case before the court.”