Leeds man jailed for longer
Hussein Semusu has had his sentence increased following an intervention by the then Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.
A man has had his sentence increased following an intervention by the then Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.
Ben Nami, 20, and Hussein Semusu, 21, murdered Tcherno Ly on 25 August 2019 at the Leeds Carnival on Chapeltown Road. Nami had previously fought with Tcherno Ly some weeks before.
After spotting Tcherno Ly, Nami returned home to collect a ‘Rambo-style’ knife, before he and Semusu sought out their victim at the carnival. When they caught up with Tcherno Ly, the victim struck out first with a knife, causing minor injuries to Nami’s chest and hand. Nami then fatally stabbed Tcherno Ly in his abdomen. Following the murder, both offenders escaped and changed their clothes, before returning to the carnival and acting as normal.
Both men were convicted of murder, and Nami was also convicted of having an offensive weapon. On 11 December 2020, they were each sentenced to life imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court. Nami was given a minimum sentence of 20 years, while Semusu was given a minimum sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment.
Their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.
On 18 March 2021, in a joint hearing at the Court of Appeal Semusu’s sentence was found to be unduly lenient. Semusu’s sentence was increased to a minimum of 19 years’ imprisonment.
After the joint hearing at the Court of Appeal the now Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said:
I was shocked and appalled by this attack which left a young man dead. The decision by the Court of Appeal to increase the sentence today was the right one, and I hope it can bring some comfort to Tcherno Ly’s family.