The toddler of a 26-year-old man who was murdered by two “cowardly” killers still cries out for his dad, a court heard.
Ryan O’Connor was savagely stabbed to death in Newport by Joseph Jeremy and Lewis Aquilina, along with acquaintance Kyle Raisis, who were trying to steal his Gucci bag.
His son Teddy, who turned one shortly after his murder, still calls out for his daddy whenever someone enters the room, Wales Online reported .
After their remorseless attack, Jeremy, Aquilina and Raisis made off laughing in a stolen car, leaving Ryan dying in a pool of his own blood.
Jeremy and Aquilina were later convicted of murder while Raisis was found guilty of manslaughter at Newport Crown Court today.
Ryan’s family are still devastated and heartbroken almost a year on from the attack.
The court was told how Ryan loved to be a dad and had his whole life ahead of him still.
In a statement, read aloud to the court, said: "Ryan’s son Teddy misses his father, calling out for his daddy and looking around for him when people enter the room.
“Being too young to understand or appreciate that Ryan has been taken from him, the family ensure that Teddy will know who is father was and what sort of individual he was.
"Ryan was so proud of his son - when he learned that he was going to have a child he would show everyone the scan pictures and always said he wanted a boy.
“When Teddy was born he was overjoyed, however he would never have that opportunity now to see his child grow up, to see what kind of person he was.
“It was Teddy’s first birthday just after his father was killed, and so Ryan never got to share that special day with his son - something which is heartbreaking for us all.”
The statement continued that Ryan had simply been out walking the community where he lived when he was attacked.
Judge, Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini, branded Mr O’Connor’s killing as “vicious and cowardly”.
He said: “He was a loving and doting father to his son Teddy. Mr O’Connor was a happy-go-lucky character who would do anything for anyone. He was taken away from his family in the prime of his life.”
As well as having to deal with the murder and the after effects it has had on Teddy, the family have also had to contend with the death of Mr O'Connor's dad John - who died during the trial.
Sister in law Lauren Flood said: "John’s condition deteriorated following Ryan’s death; it impacted him greatly and he was never the same after Ryan was cruelly taken away from us. He never got to see justice done for his son."
The brutal attack on Ryan, known as ‘Apples’ to his friends, happened on June 10 last year.
A group of five boys including Jeremy, Aquilina and Rasis, as well as Elliott Fiteni and Ethan Strickland, travelled from Cardiff to Newport in a stolen Ford Fiesta on the day of the attack.
Jeremy and Aquilina left the car and began chasing Ryan, attacking him with a machete.
As Ryan put his hands up to defend himself Jeremy stabbed him in the front and back before running back to the car.
A trial heard the Ford Fiesta pulled off but drove back shortly later with witnesses describing Jeremy and Aquilina “laughing, shouting and mocking” Mr O’Connor as he lay dying.
As they drove back to Cardiff, Strickland took over driving the vehicle and was at the wheel when police began a pursuit on the A48 Western Avenue.
Strickland drove off at speed but after driving over a stinger device he crashed the Fiesta on the Glyn Collen estate in Pentwyn, where all five boys were arrested.
Daniel O’Connor, the victim’s brother, ran to his brother’s aid after being told he had been stabbed.
He said: "I leaned on the floor by Ryan’s head and offered to help. I noticed the hood on Ryan’s top was full of blood, there was a big pool of it at the bottom. I saw blood coming from an injury to his right hand.
“I didn’t know what to do or say but held his hand. He had been sick and what he had eaten earlier was all over his face.
“He was bare chested as the other man did chest compressions. I could see another injury to his right hand side of his chest and more blood came from this. I tried to apply pressure but it wasn’t stopping."
Mr O’Connor died as a result of his injuries, including five stab wounds. The most serious injury was to his upper left chest which pierced his left lung and his heart.
Two knives, including a 15-inch hunting knife, were found inside the Fiesta and a third knife was found on the estate nearby.
Phones seized from the defendants’ phones revealed damning footage, including a video of Jeremy chasing a boy with a knife, shouting “I’ve got a knife”.
There were also photos of Jeremy and Raisis posing with the knives used to kill Mr O’Connor just days before the murder.
Jeremy, 18, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of murder and robbery.
Aquilina, 20, of Canton Court, Riverside, was found guilty of murder and robbery.
Raisis, 18, of Bartley Wilson Way, Canton was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and robbery.
Strickland, 19, of Clos Briallen, Caerau was found guilty of robbery, but not guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Fiteni, 20, of no fixed abode, was found not guilty of all charges.
On Wednesday, April 13, Jeremy was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years.
Aquilina was handed a life sentence too - with a minimum sentence of 20 years. Raisis was given a 12 year custodial term.
Strickland will be sentenced at a later date.
