Brutal murder in Sheffield: Mistaken identity leads to tragedy
Stephen Koszyczarski, a 60-year-old resident of Sheffield, UK, was the victim of a brutal murder. Two assailants tortured him before his death because they mistakenly believed he was a degenerate.
11:24 AM EDT, May 17, 2024
Thirty-six-year-old Zoe Rider and 45-year-old Nicola Lethbridge were hunting for a pedophile in Sheffield, a city with over 500,000 residents in northern England. The women targeted Stephen Koszyczarski as a suspect despite him having no connection to the offenses Zoe and Nicola accused him of.
The women attacked the 60-year-old man at night when he was alone at home. The intruders humiliated and abused the victim. They threatened to mutilate his genitals when his pants fell during the struggle. The attackers partially recorded the assault, capturing shocking details of the incident.
They mistook a neighbor for a pedophile
During the trial, footage from Zoe's phone was shown, in which the woman hits Stephen. In the clip, the intruders are heard discussing what to do next: "He's a pedophile. Think about your daughter, go back and hit him."
The women left Stephen seriously injured. The 60-year-old man was conscious enough to call the emergency number. An ambulance transported the beaten man to the hospital, but doctors could not save his life.
The police launched an investigation. Officers went door to door, reviewing surveillance footage. They quickly identified the suspects in the crime. The guilt was confirmed by the running pants one of the women was wearing on the night of the murder. Investigators later found on her phone a recording of the moment of the attack, in which she wore the same pants.
Gruesome mistake. The victim was innocent
"The attackers not only subjected Stephen to psychological and physical torture but also humiliated him during the attack, wrongly accusing him of pedophilia," said Tom Woodward, the lead investigator, during the trial.
Koszyczarski was considered a quiet and shy person and a helpful neighbor. Investigators found no evidence suggesting that the man was a pedophile. On the day of the murder, he visited a local cafe and talked to the owner. The woman was concerned about his condition because he had no money. The man complained about neighbors who made so much noise that it was difficult for him to sleep.
The jury found Nicola and Zoe guilty of murder and robbery. The sentence will be delivered on June 5 (Eastern Time).
