R v Richard Sampson and Boe Barton

March 31, 2023

Richard Thyne KC and Laura Marshall acted for the prosecution and Jamie Hill KC and Dermot Hughes acted for the defence of Richard Sampson, one of two defendants on trial for the ‘savage’ murder of Anthony Sumner. All were instructed by Favell Smith and Lawson.

Anthony Sumner was killed after a ‘callous and cruel’ attack by Sampson and 15-year-old Boe Barton, during which Sumner was repeatedly stabbed and attacked with a machete in Sheffield on 29 July 2019.

Both were found guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article. Sampson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years. Barton was jailed for a minimum term of 18 years.

Previous reporting restrictions on Barton, now 17, were lifted by the judge following the trial.

The case received coverage on the BBC and in the Sheffield Star and Yorkshire Live.