Nottingham: Man jailed for murder of teen boxer Joshua Bradley

A man who stabbed a teenager through the heart during a brawl in Nottingham city centre has been handed a life sentence.

Richard Johnson, 24, fatally injured amateur boxer Joshua Bradley, 19, during the fight in the early hours of 8 February.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how Bradley was attempting to help a friend who was being assaulted when he was attacked. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sentencing Johnson on 15 July, Judge Gregory Dickinson QC said: "He would still be alive, but for the fact when you went out that night you took with you a knife and you were ready and willing to use it."

Johnson must serve at least 25 years before he is eligible for parole.

Another defendant, Zaiem Zulqurnain, 19, was cleared of violent disorder and murder charges.

A third man, Muhamed Adnan, 22, was also found not guilty of murder, but has admitted violent disorder and will be sentenced later.

Speaking after the verdict, Det Supt Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "This was a wholly unnecessary death of a young man in the prime of his life. Johnson purposefully took out a knife into the city centre, and brandished it when the fight broke out in a state of bravado.

"Joshua, who was an accomplished boxer, went to help a friend who was being assaulted but tragically ended up losing his life.

"There were several people involved in that fight that night, and Johnson's use of the knife on Joshua resulted in fatal consequences. Carrying knives can never have a positive outcome. Someone will end up seriously hurt, or like this case, losing their life.

"For Joshua's family and friends, that night changed everything. They will never see Joshua again, they didn't get a chance to say goodbye and now have to try to go on without him. My thoughts are with them today, as they continue to deal with the devastation caused."

Bradley had been a keen boxer since he was seven years old. He was a Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire youth champion and represented England at youth level, the Nottingham Post reported.

He stopped boxing following his mother's death several years ago, but continued to help younger members at Bilborough Boxing Club, the newspaper reported.