Pursuit of mistaken justice leaves innocent neighbor dead
Stephen Koszyczarski, a 60-year-old resident of Sheffield, UK, was the victim of a brutal murder. Two attackers tortured him before his death under the mistaken belief that he was a pedophile.
Thirty-six-year-old Zoe Rider and 45-year-old Nicola Lethbridge were on the hunt for a pedophile in Sheffield, a city with over 500,000 residents in northern England. The women targeted Stephen Koszyczarski as a suspect, even though he had nothing to do with the vile accusations they hurled at him.
The women attacked the 60-year-old man at night while 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, providing shocking details of the incident.
They mistook a neighbour 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 their next steps: "He's a paedophile; 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 him to the hospital, where doctors were unable to 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 a recording on her phone, showing the attack where she was wearing 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 he was a pedophile. On the day of the murder, he had visited a local cafe and talked to the owner. The woman was concerned about his condition because he had no money. He 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.
