Teen murderer fatally stabbed man in Cheltenham after taking his money and drugs
Summary
A 17-year-old boy who fatally stabbed a man after taking his money and drugs has been convicted of murder. The teenager, who can not be named for legal reasons, was convicted by jury yesterday (Monday, July 27) after the incident in an alleyway in Cheltenham just before Christmas.
Details
He had been on trial at Bristol Crown Court after pleading not guilty to murdering Hamid Erfani during a robbery on the afternoon of December 16, 2025. Mr Erfani, who was in his 40s, died after he was stabbed in an alleyway which runs between Larput Place and St Paul’s Road in Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire Police said both the teenager and another boy, aged 15, had earlier admitted to separate charges of robbing Mr Erfani and possessing a bladed article. The court heard that the two boys did not know the victim but were aware that he dealt drugs. They targeted Mr Erfani in the alleyway and demanded at knifepoint that he give them the money and drugs which he had in his possession, police said.
The victim did not put up any resistance and handed the items over, added police. The boys also took a mobile phone. The two boys then ran from the scene, discarding their knives as they went.
Police said the murder weapon was later found by officers in bushes close to Leisure at Cheltenham. During the trial, Charles Rowe KC for the defence said that the 17-year-old had acted in self-defence when he stabbed Mr Erfani, claiming the man had lunged for the boys after they had robbed him.
However, prosecutor Anna Vigars KC, said: “Mr Erfani had no knife on him and, other than begging [the boys] not to take his mobile, he had offered no resistance to the robbery.
“We say that that stabbing was a deliberate act done for no reason that anyone could see – an act of brutality, to reinforce the fact that [the boy] was not one to be messed with, to ensure that his name was not reported in connection with the robbery that they had just committed.” Both boys have been remanded in custody for sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, September 8.
What You Need to Know
The victim did not put up any resistance and handed the items over, added police. The boys also took a mobile phone. The two boys then ran from the scene, discarding their knives as they went.
Report source: Gloucestershire Live