The ‘wild’ teenage brothers who killed Junior Osborne have been named for the first time

A 50-year-old father was murdered in Leicester by a “pack” of “wild” teenagers – including twins who had celebrated their 16th birthday the day before the fatal attack. Before the brothers were sentenced today, the Honorable Judge Neil Calver agreed to a request by LeicestershireLive to lift reporting restrictions so the pair could be named publicly for the first time.

The identities of Nero McLean and his twin brother Nevardo McLean were previously protected by law due to their age. Nero McLean was convicted by a jury last month of murdering Junior Osborne in Narborough Road just after 9.30pm on Wednesday September 27 last year.

During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, CCTV was shown of Nero McLean sprinting down Narborough Road, near the Subway takeaway, and stabbing Mr Osborne in the back of the head with a “very large knife” as he learn on the bike on the bike. sidewalk in front of a store where two children were playing. The knife went through his jugular vein and down into his abdomen, severing one of his lungs.

READ MORE: Jury reaches verdicts on five teenagers accused of killing Junior Osborne

Meanwhile, the other four defendants shouted encouragement from the opposite side of the road. The others were Nevardo McLean, Moises Steiner, 18, of Dovedale Road, Thurmaston, Theobald Budzwa, 18, of Ash Court, Groby and James Williams, 18, of Pelham Way, Leicester city centre. All four were found guilty of manslaughter by the jury.

At today’s sentencing hearing, Nero McLean received a life sentence and must serve at least 17 years behind bars before parole can be considered. The four found guilty of manslaughter were each sentenced to eight years in prison and will all have to serve two-thirds of their sentences before being automatically released on licence.

As well as naming Nero and Nevardo McLean, both of Upperton Road, West End, Leicester, it can be revealed for the first time today that all five defendants have previously been caught by police with knives. Budzwa was cautioned for carrying a knife in Northampton town centre, while the other four were convicted of possessing blades.

Williams and Nero also had convictions for using threatening behavior from an incident about three months before Mr Osborne’s murder.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Kate Blumgart KC read a statement from Julie Osborne, Mr Osborne’s wife and mother of his daughter. She described growing up on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, moving to England aged 25 after the island’s volcano erupted.

She said: “He was an intelligent person who had an entrepreneurial spirit. In 1997 he came to the UK to try to rebuild his life, leaving his loved ones behind.

“He made many friends and had a family and children who loved him. Junior was a kind and loving person.

“He was no angel and mixed with the wrong people in recent years, unfortunately, but he didn’t deserve to die in such a tragic way.

“The loss has left a huge hole in our hearts. His life was taken by children trying to act like adults.”

Sentencing the five killers, who gathered in a West End flat and filmed themselves playing with knives before the murder, the judge said: ‘The circumstances of Junior’s death at your hands are now well known. On the afternoon of September 27 you all met. at 3 Andrewes Walk in Leicester to plan to attack Junior.

“You all took steps to be secretive and cover your tracks. All those rescued from Nevardo wore face masks. You deleted Snap Chat messages and one of you got away with the knife.

“None of you helped the police. You all lied constantly or remained silent.

“Before the killing you were excited, you show up before the attack to send video clips to your friends. Three of you brought your big knives into the apartment as a prelude to the attack on Junior.

“You were all used to carrying knives in private and in public. This was normal behavior for you, despite its stupidity.

“You left the apartment with three knives to find Junior and attack him.”

The judge said he could not say why the teenagers attacked Mr Osborne but was sure Nero McLean intended to kill him. He said: “You may all have been promised money, but I can’t be sure of that.

“Junior was walking away from all of you when he was attacked. He was blissfully unaware that this group of wild youths intent on attacking him were on their way to Narborough Road.”

Addressing Nero, the judge said: “You stuck the knife into the right side of Junior’s throat. The force required was on the severe end, and by all accounts it was a brutal, cold-blooded killing that took him by surprise.

“A more cruel, more heartless crime is hard to imagine.”

The judge told the teenagers they had ruined their own lives and more. He said: “You have taken the life of an innocent man and now you have destroyed your own lives as well as the lives of the people who loved Junior Osborne and the people who love you.

“You will have plenty of time in custody to reflect on the harm you have each caused to so many lives.”