Four convicted after fatal stabbing of peacemaker
Four people have been convicted following the fatal stabbing of a man who tried to act as a peacemaker and break up a fight.
Sidney Palmer died in hospital from a single stab wound after intervening in a dispute in Leicester city centre in September.
At the city's crown court on Wednesday, Victor-Eduard Raja was found guilty of murder and Michael Berlin was convicted of manslaughter.
Nathan Pritchard had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while Diana Bodrug admitted assisting an offender.
All four will be sentenced on 24 June.
Leicestershire Police said at about 18:15 BST on 30 September, there was an altercation with Nathan Pritchard and another man in Conduit Street - with Pritchard then punched by another man outside a shop in London Road shortly afterwards in retaliation.
Back in Conduit Street at about 19:00, Pritchard challenged the first man and called Michael Berlin, who threatened him.
Victor-Eduard Raja then received a call from Berlin and made his way to the scene - carrying a knife.
A fight started with Raja violently punching the man.
Several people nearby intervened - one of which was Sid Palmer, who tried to pull Raja away.
CCTV showed 25-year-old Raja brandishing the knife and swinging towards Mr Palmer, missing once before striking him with a single stab wound to the chest.
The wound passed through his heart and lung.
Police tracked Raja through CCTV to a taxi to Blackbird Road where he was picked up by his mother, Diana Bodrug, and driven to Yorkshire.
She booked him into accommodation with false details and bought him a new phone SIM card.
But Raja, of Columbine Road, Leicester, was traced and arrested by armed officers in the early hours of Thursday 5 October.
Pritchard, 30, of Conduit Street, pleaded guilty to manslaughter while Bodrug, 49, of Melton Road, Syston, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.
Following a trial which finished at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday, Raja was found guilty of murder and possession of a bladed/pointed article in a public place.
Michael Berlin, 32, of Great Central Way, Leicester, was found guilty of manslaughter.
A 35-year-old man was found not guilty of manslaughter following the trial.
Det Ch Insp Mark Sinski, who was the senior investigating officer, said: “This was a tragic loss of life of a popular man, who was only trying to act as a peacemaker and stop the initial fight taking place.
“Sidney was a well known and loved man and his death has understandably had a devastating effect on his family and friends.”
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