25 years secured following murder trial

In August of this year, Charlotte Baines, leading Holly Thompson, successfully prosecuted the defendant, Jason Hale. The defendant faced three counts at trial, including Attempted Robbery, Wounding with Intent and Murder.

Following a two-week trial before the Recorder of Sheffield, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all three counts. Sentence was subsequently adjourned with all parties directed to prepare legal arguments on what the starting point for the applicable minimum term would be.

The Prosecution’s submissions were that the defendant, having been convicted of the Attempted Robbery and Wounding with Intent which took place in the same alleyway only two days prior to the fatal stabbing, showed a clear propensity to carry knives. Close viewing of the CCTV footage showed what the Prosecution said was a black handled knife secreted in the defendant’s trouser waistband whilst he was loitering around the area prior to the killing, A black handled knife was recovered from a nearby residential garden which had the Defendant’s DNA on it. The defendant had also broken and disposed of another knife as a shard of a blade was recovered from the toilet of his home address.

The Recorder of Sheffield ruled in favour of the Prosecution, in finding that the defendant had taken the black handled knife to the scene of the fatal stabbing, which therefore attracted a starting point of a 25-year minimum term.

At the hearing listed on 20th November 2025, the Defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years subject to reduction for the 423 days spent on remand, equating to a minimum term of 23 years and 307 days.

Charlotte and Holly were instructed by Jill Seddon of CPS Yorkshire and Humberside. For media coverage of the case click here:  BBC News