Five men jailed for life for murder of 26-year-old Solomon Robinson in Scarborough

At around 2am, on Sunday October 20, 2019, Stefan Selvage 19, Dawid Goral, 21, Callon Brass, 22, Kieran Watkinson, 19, and Stevie Low, 23 stabbed Solomon Robinson in a joint attack on St Nicholas Street in Scarborough.

They then fled the scene.

Mr Robinson was rushed to hospital with an 11-inch-deep stab wound to his back.

He died around three hours later.

During the trial, Leeds Crown Court was shown Snapchat footage captured just hours before the fatal stabbing which shows the group at a party together.

Drugs, knives and a large amount of money can be seen in the footage.

CCTV footage was then shown which captured the group walking through the town together before arriving to the area where Mr Robinson was stabbed.

The group were all wearing the same clothing as in the Snapchat footage.

Further shots show what appears to be several dark figures fighting in the darkness in front of the town hall, with at least three of the figures brandishing a knife, before running away.

Mr Robinson can be seen staggering away before collapsing on the floor.

Selvage, of Colescliffe Road, admitted murder the day before the trial and was jailed for life on Friday, February 19 at Leeds Crown Court.

He will have to serve a minimum of 15 years before he can be considered for release.

The other four denied murder, but, following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court, they were found guilty of murder on Friday, February 5.

They were given life sentences on Friday, February 19.

Solomon's mother read a statement to the court, which said: “Solomon’s death has destroyed my family, it has simply crushed our souls and I doubt the family can ever be the same again.“

She described how listening to the final moments of Solomon’s life with her husband at the trial had been unbearable at times and that no words can explain the pain and torture that they are going through.

The family statement ended with some words from one of Solomon’s little sisters who described Solomon as having a “heart of gold who would help others before himself.”

She said: “There are no words to describe the pain, which we all feel, and that justice being served will hopefully give us some sort of light to help heal us.”

Detective Superintendent Fran Naughton, Senior Investigating Officer of the investigation, said: “This was an appalling act of premeditated violence and our thoughts remain with Mr Robinson’s family as they attempt to come to terms with their devastating loss. I would like to praise them for behaving with nothing but dignity, despite the court proceedings being very distressing at times.

“After carrying out the brutal attack, the group fled the scene. Their actions were cowardly and cold, and they have proven themselves to be dangerous individuals who have rightly been taken off our streets for a significant amount of time.

“We will not tolerate violence of any kind and will continue to use every tactic at our disposal to put violent offenders before the courts. I hope the outcome can offer Mr Robinson’s loved ones some comfort that justice has been served.

“I’d like to thank the Scarborough Borough Council CCTV operators who alerted us to people carrying knives in the area and helped us to collect significant evidence. Thank you also to the many members of public and witnesses who provided Mr Robinson with first aid immediately after the attack or provided information and evidence as part of the investigation.”

“Lastly, I hope the sentence handed out sends a strong message to anyone who chooses to carry a knife. Just because you are not the one holding the weapon, it doesn’t make you any less responsible if damage is done because of it.”

Selvage, of Colescliffe Road, was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 15 years before he is considered for release.

Watkinson, of Endcliff Crescent was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 18 years before he is considered for release.

Brass, of Eastborough, was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 21 years before he is considered for release.

Goral, of Durham Street, was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 21 years before he is considered for release.

Low, of Longwestgate, was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 23 years before he is considered for release.

He was also sentenced to three years and six months for being concerned in supply of a controlled drug of Class A. which is to be served concurrently.