Five people have been jailed for the murder of Paul Foster in West Derby.
The 47-year-old was fatally stabbed during a botched robbery at an address on Muirhead Avenue during the early hours of October 15, 2024.
All five defendants were convicted of Mr Foster’s death on Monday (May 18) and were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court with two found guilty of murder.
Zayd Alasaly 24, of Toxteth, and Michael Fields, 49, of no fixed abode, were both jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years after being found guilty of murder.
Alasaly was also sentenced to 15 years for robbery, 12 years for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence and three and a half years for possession of a bladed article in a public place which will run concurrently.
Fields received a further three-and-a-half years for possession of a bladed article in a public place, 12 years for robbery and ten years for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence, also set to run concurrently.
Dylan Blundell, 27, of no fixed abode, was jailed for a total of 16 years for manslaughter, possession of a bladed article in a public place, robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence
Elsadig Abrahim, 61, of Toxteth, was jailed for a total of 18 years for manslaughter, robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence.
Sarah Kasseum, 40, of Anfield, was jailed for a total of 17 years for manslaughter, robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence and drugs offences.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Foster’s relatives said that they have struggled with the loss of ‘the glue that held our family together’.
“Our family has been shattered and we are now trying to cope with the emptiness left behind,” read the statement.
“Every day we are reminded of what has been taken from us. There are so many moments we will never have, family milestones, celebrations and the future he deserved.
“Paul should still be a part of our family watching his children grow, being with his grandchildren, continuing to lead and protect us all as he did so naturally.
“Instead, we are left with a gap that can never be filled.
“This is not something we will ever recover from. The pain and the loss will stay with us for the rest of our lives. His death has changed everything.”