The mum of a 22-year-old who was murdered by four men says her family "has been destroyed beyond belief".
Zoe Cooke, from West Bridgford, was speaking after a jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict following a six-week trial at Derby Crown Court.
Jordan Fairbrother, Dylan Geary, Daniel Lewsley and Grant Masterson were found to have murdered Byron Griffin in a violent street attack in Ilkeston.
All of them had previously denied being responsible for the death of the young man from East Leake, who had been a victim of an ambush-style attack in broad daylight at around 12.40pm on Sunday, July 4, last year.
Mrs Cooke spoke about Byron being her "best friend" prior to his death, adding he still had a lot to live for.
Following the verdict being delivered on Friday, February 18, she said: “I cannot express my words in relation to today’s guilty verdicts. It is bittersweet. Nothing will ever be enough justice for losing my beautiful boy Byron.
“He was my best friend, and I worshipped the ground he walked on.
“My family and I are broken. I know that one day these men will walk free and live their lives and we will live with the fact that Byron is gone forever.
“Our family has been destroyed beyond belief. Byron had so much to live for and was genuinely loved by so many.
“We will miss him forever but can say that justice has been done. I’d like to thank all those involved with this investigation from Derbyshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution team. I couldn’t fault them in any way and am genuinely thankful to them.”
Mr Griffin had been taken to Queen's Medical Centre after the attack, but later died of his injuries.
The incident began when Byron, along with four friends, drove to Great Northern Close, Ilkeston, in a blue Ford Focus.
As Mr Griffin left the car Grant Masterson produced a baseball bat and the pair began fighting, before the three other men joined in to aid Masterson.
Masterson was armed with a baseball bat while Dylan Geary, armed with a machete, slashed towards him.
Witnesses then saw Jordan Fairbrother stab Mr Griffin in the chest with a knife, which, when found by officers hidden in a bag of dog food, was found to have both Jordan Fairbrother’s, and Daniel Lewsley’s, DNA on it.
Mr Griffin managed to flee the scene but collapsed in Eyre’s Garden, a short distance from where the fight took place.
Byron's mum Zoe is now dedicating a lot of her time to providing bleed kits across Nottinghamshire and campaigning against knife crime.
Dylan Geary, 22, Daniel Lewsley, 32, Grant James Masterson, 29, all of Great Northern Close, Ilkeston, and 26-year-old Jordan Fairbrother, of Nelson Street, Swadlincote, will be sentenced at Derby Crown Court on February 28.
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