Sixteen-year-old Joel Lorell Simpson has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing 45-year-old David Hunt nine times at a property in Hull used for drug dealing. Simpson, a member of the Saskia Line drug operation, carried out the attack on the landing of a house in Arundel Close on June 19 last year. Despite claiming self-defense, Simpson was found guilty of the murder after Judge Mrs Justice Foster lifted a reporting restriction on his identity.
Another individual, Dean Dawkins, was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Both Simpson and Dawkins had confessed to conspiring to supply Class A drugs. The court heard that the violent incident was fueled by Simpson’s anger towards Hunt, whom he accused of previous theft and indebtedness to the drug line. The prosecution detailed how Hunt was stabbed multiple times within seconds of entering the house, sustaining fatal wounds to various parts of his body. The sentencing also included other individuals involved in the drug operation, with Murray and Williams receiving lengthy prison terms. In a poignant victim impact statement, Hunt’s brother expressed the profound trauma caused by the event. Reflecting on the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jayne Goodens emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for the crime to account.
Tune in to the latest updates from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up on the newest episode of Look North, or share a story you believe deserves our attention. In other news, a 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of murder at a drugs house. The boy claimed self-defense during the murder trial. Additionally, a man was fatally stabbed by young drug dealers according to court reports. For more information, visit the HM Courts Service website.
