Anthony Sumner murder trial: Two defendants deny murdering a man with a machete and knife in Sheffield

Sheffield Crown Court has heard during a trial how 49-year-old Richard Sampson, of Prince of Wales Road near Woodthorpe, Sheffield, and a 16-year-old boy, whose name cannot be released for legal reasons, allegedly killed a man 42 year olds murdered Anthony Sumner on Windy House Lane at The Manor, Sheffield.

Prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said the defendant had Anthony Sumner in ambush on July 29, 2021, armed with a machete and knife and with masks up.

She added: “Anthony Sumner was defenseless when he was chased and cornered by them in a garden.

“Richard Sampson came at him with a machete and aimed deliberate blows at his head and torso, which landed and injured his left wrist and arm as he tried to fend it off.”

Ms Colborne said the youth was armed with a knife and stabbed Mr Sumner’s chest area before the two accused fled the scene.

Anthony Sumner stumbled into the street and collapsed in front of neighbors and friends and died just after midnight on July 30, 2021, according to Ms Colborne.

She claimed that Richard Sampson and the youth tried to clean their clothes and that the youth called a relative and allegedly confessed that he had stabbed someone and believed that person had died.

Both Mr Sampson and the Sheffield youth have pleaded not guilty to murder and possession of an obnoxious weapon in a public place without due process or reasonable excuse.

However, Ms Colborne claimed Richard Sampson admitted to using the machete in self-defense and he accused the youth of producing a knife and stabbing Mr Sumner.

The youth also told someone that Mr Sampson had been looking for Anthony Sumner and that Mr Sampson had attacked Mr Sumner with a gun, according to Ms Colborne, and the youth is said to have also confessed to stabbing Mr Sumner.

Ms Colborne said: “Prosecutors say they both lie about their involvement, or lack thereof, and are jointly responsible for the death of Anthony Sumner.”

She claimed both defendants were looking for Mr Sumner as a “revenge attack” because Mr Sampson believed Anthony Sumner had previously broken his windows.

The defendants were allegedly captured on CCTV behind Anthony Sumner and a friend, according to Ms Colborne, and after the friend went to his home, Mr Sumner was attacked in Windy House Lane.

Ms Colborne said two people at another property claimed to have witnessed the attack, as Anthony Sumner allegedly swung a machete at him and a second man allegedly attacked him with a knife in the chest area.

The court heard a 999 call recording from one of the witnesses, who said she saw someone being “stabbed” with a machete and knife.

Ms Colborne said despite the best efforts of paramedics, Mr Sumner died on the road just after midnight on July 30, 2021.

She added that Anthony Sumner was wounded in the head with a machete and in the chest with a knife, and the stab wounds and resulting blood loss and breathing problems led to his death.