Isaiah Usen-Satchell

Isaiah Usen-Satchell died in a fight in Sheffield in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2020.

Two twin brothers were tried for his murder but acquitted at the direction of the judge.

Isaiah Usen-Satchell died after being slashed in the wrist, severing an artery, during a clash involving a group of men in St Aidan's Road, near Norfolk Park in Sheffield. He collapsed a few metres away after being stabbed.

However, when the case came to trial that prosecution said that the Crown had reviewed the case and felt there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction, a decision that the judge said he had no hesitation in endorsing.

The court heard that one of the brothers had claimed he had acted in self-defence after Isaiah Usen-Satchell jumped out at him from some bushes with a knife.

It was heard that there had been disputes between the twin brothers and their friends and Isaiah Usen-Satchell's friends over several months before New Year’s Eve that had resulted in the group going to Isaiah Usen-Satchell's neighbourhood, it being noted additionally that one of the twin's was seeing a girl that had previously had a relationship with Isaiah Usen-Satchell and that they had exchanged abusive messages over it. However, they were said to have then exchanged messages about meeting throughout the night.

Isaiah Usen-Satchell had been studying business at Leeds Trinity University at the time.

Earlier on New Year's Day they had all been at The Viper Rooms on Carver Street where the twin who had been seeing the girl and Isaiah Usen-Satchell had squared up to each other, but one of them was asked to leave.

There were also further incidents, including another confrontation in Rockingham Street just before 1am.

CCTV evidence was also shown of the twin brothers then visiting Isaiah Usen-Satchell's home in the Arbourthorne area about 30 minutes later, in which one of the twins was seen to be carrying a 'long, silver item'.

Isaiah Usen-Satchell was then seen in CCTV damaging an Audi car that was parked outside a house in the city.

The twins were then later seen going back to the Arbourthorne area at about 4am with some friends and going towards Isaiah Usen-Satchell's home twice before leaving.

Isaiah Usen-Satchell was said to have then contacted his father and some associates and to have then hidden in a bush and to have then jumped out at the twins when they came along and to have said:

He was said to have then run at the twins and that their friends ran in opposite directions, it being noted that it appeared that Isaiah Usen-Satchell appeared to be the attacker at that point. however, Isaiah Usen-Satchell was then seen to fall whilst chasing the twins in Guildford Avenue after which they started to chase him.

The court saw CCTV of Isaiah Usen-Satchell chasing the twins with the knife before he was seen to trip and fall, after which he was seen being chased by the twin brothers.

The prosecution stated that one of the twin brothers then got hold of the knife and caused the injury to Isaiah Usen-Satchell from which he soon after died.

One of the twins said that he had been trying to help a friend get his lost phone back and had been intending to drive his friends home when they ended up in Norfolk Park, stating that he had not been expecting violence. He said:

He said that Isaiah Usen-Satchell then stumbled and briefly dropped his knife and that they tried to kick it away, but that he then ran after Isaiah Usen-Satchell, thinking that he was pursuing his friends.

He said then that he started to walk up a hill and that he then heard his brother shout and  he turned to see Isaiah Usen-Satchell coming at him, 'swinging the knife'. However, he said that his brother then grabbed the blade to stop him but received a stab wound to the thigh, and so he closed with Isaiah Usen-Satchell to stop him hurting his brother. He said that he then tried to hold Isaiah Usen-Satchell by his shoulders and grabbed at the knife, cutting his hand. He said that his brother then tried to help but was sliced in the leg.

He said that they were then both shouting at Isaiah Usen-Satchell to let go of the knife and that a friend came along and that Isaiah Usen-Satchell then walked away.

The twin brother said:

He added:

The result of the struggle was that Isaiah Usen-Satchell received a slash to his forearm from which he bled to death. He collapsed shortly after and was found at 4.20am by a passerby and an ambulance was called for him.

It was noted that the twin brothers also both went to the hospital to have their injuries treated.

The twin brothers appeared at Sheffield Crown Court in December 2020, but the judge directed the jury to find both of them not guilty of murder due to insufficient evidence. However, one of the brothers still faced a charge of manslaughter, but he claimed he had acted in self-defence and he was similarly cleared on the judge's direction at a hearing in January 2021.

The brothers were also cleared of criminal damage and perverting the course of justice.