Joseph Riches: Four jailed for Stourbridge machete murder

Dray Simmonds, Joshua Edgington, Corey Burkitt and Leroy Robinson were found guilty of the murder by a jury at Coventry Crown Court earlier this week.

The 16-year-old victim, from Bartley Green, was in the town centre with friends on Saturday, July 15. West Midlands Police said that for reasons only known to themselves, they were "intent on causing trouble" with another group of teens.

Joseph saw the group and ran up to them at the bottom of the High Street, attacking two of them with a screwdriver before trying to get in a car with his friends. But he was unable to and ran along Coventry Street as the other group chased him.

Police said that one member of the group had pulled a machete from his clothing and three of them caught up with Joseph and pushed him into a hedge.

Dray Simmonds (left) and Joshua Edgington (Image: West Midlands Police)

The group attacked him with the blade and he was stabbed in the chest as a fourth teen joined them.

He then managed to get in the car with his friends, who had driven to Coventry Street.

Joseph's injuries were fatal and he was found in the car which had been abandoned almost six miles away in Orchard Close, Rowley Regis.

A machete was found by a member of the public under a fire escape in Stourbridge High Street and Dray Simmonds was arrested in Dudley the following day.

Joshua Edgington, Corey Burkitt, and Leroy Robinson, later presented themselves at a police station. All four were arrested on suspicion of murder.

Even though Simmonds had inflicted the fatal blow, the other three were complicit in the attack on Joseph and were found guilty by joint enterprise.

They were all sentenced at Coventry Crown Court today (February 15).

Simmonds, from Dixon Green Road, Dudley, and Edgington, from Hallewell Road, Birmingham, both now 20, were given life sentences and ordered to serve at least 21 years in jail. 

Corey Burkitt (left) and Leroy Robinson (Image: West Midlands Police)

Burkitt, aged 17, of Queens Road, Smethwick, was given a life sentence and ordered to spend at least 15 years behind bars, while Robinson, aged 16, of Kew Drive, Dudley, was given a life sentence and ordered to service at least 15 years and six months. Both of them have now been named after reporting restrictions were lifted in court.

Joseph’s mother Sarah said: “Joseph was an amazing young man who had the world at his fingertips. He was kind, funny, caring, loyal and compassionate.

“His murder has left a huge hole in the lives of his family and friends and he will be forever loved and missed by us all. I will never forgive and never forget.”

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Harrison, from the force’s homicide unit, said: “This is another young life lost to knife crime.

“Only those involved will know the reason for the attack, but no doubt it was not worth the price of a life, or the lengthy sentences that those convicted are facing.”