Stephen Koszyczarski: Neighbours guilty of murdering 'quiet and shy' Sheffield man

Two women have been found guilty of murdering their neighbour after falsely accusing him of being a paedophile.

Stephen Koszyczarski, 60, suffered serious head injuries after being attacked in his home in Fraser Drive, Woodseats, on 9 August.

Zoe Rider, 36, and Nicola Lethbridge, 45, also of Fraser Drive, were found guilty after a three week trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

Both have been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 5 June.

This report contains details which you may find distressing.

The court heard Rider and Lethbridge had discussed between themselves how they believed Mr Koszyczarski was a paedophile, despite having no evidence for their claims.

Addressing the jury, Judge Sarah Wright, however, said that during the course on an "extensive" police investigation "no information was uncovered at all suggesting that he'd ever had children visit his address or any connection of paedophile interests".

On the night of the attack prosecutors said the two women went to his home "to confront and humiliate" Mr Koszyczarski.

The court heard how during the confrontation the victim's trousers had fallen down and the pair made threats to mutilate him.

The court was shown a mobile phone video, filmed by Rider, which showed Lethbridge hitting Mr Koszyczarski on the night he is thought to have died.

In it Rider can be heard telling Lethbridge: "He is a [paedophile], think about your daughter, get back in there and hit him".

Mr Koszyczarski, who had a mild learning difficulty, was described by friends as a "quiet, shy man" and a "good neighbour".

The jury heard Rider had sparked up a relationship with him in the weeks before his death.

In that time, Mr Koszyczarski told friends how he had become "scared" and never had any money. He had even asked a local cafe to open a tab for him so he could buy a cup of tea and a sandwich.

"On occasions he was physically shaking. Something seemed to be affecting him very badly. He'd gone right downhill," neighbour Steven Butterley said.

The pair, who denied murdering Mr Koszyczarski as well as a count of robbery, were found guilty of both offences.

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