A man described by a judge as someone who can become “terrifyingly violent” has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a man in Gloucester.
Samwen Muiruri, aged 32 and of Trier Way in Gloucester, was sentenced to life imprisonment and has to serve a minimum of 25 years before being considered for release.
Kidane Gebrehiwot, aged 55, suffered a single stab wound to his torso during an attack on Arthur Street in Gloucester at around 1am on Sunday 6 August 2023.
CCTV footage secured as part of the investigation showed the men together on a number of streets before an argument took place on Eastgate Street.
Mr Gebrehiwot walked away and Muiruri walked to his home nearby. He picked up a knife and returned to confront Mr Gebrehiwot on the street. Muiruri stabbed him once to the chest, fatally wounding him.
Members of the public heard Muiruri, who was wearing a distinctive red and white Arsenal Football Club jacket, say “I am done with you now” before walking away.
Mr Gebrehiwot collapsed at the scene and despite the best efforts of passers-by and emergency responders, died from his injuries.
Muiruri was arrested from his home address the following day. A jacket and trainers, which matched those seen in CCTV footage, were seized from his bedroom.
Muiruri had denied his involvement in Mr Gebrehiwot’s murder and at the end of a two week trial, the jury unanimously found him guilty of both murder and possession of a knife in a public place.
He was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday 29 August.
At the conclusion of sentencing Detective Inspector Adam Stacey from the Major Crime Investigation Team said: “Kidane was a beloved member of the community who was known for his kind and caring nature. He was known as ‘Uncle’.
“Samwen Muiruri on the other hand is an extremely dangerous, violent individual and a coward. Having been put in his place by Kidane during an argument on Eastgate Street he headed home, picked up a knife and returned to attack Kidane in what was a cold-blooded and pre-meditated act of extreme violence. He has a propensity for such violence and our communities are safer with him behind bars.
“My thoughts remain with members of Kidane’s family and I hope that today’s sentence brings them some comfort.”
In a victim impact statement Kidane’s daughter Sosena described the impact of his murder saying: “I have thoughts of his death in my dreams and can’t focus on my work. I am in pain. My father was a very good man. I lost my father because he was killed by someone. I miss my father so much that I am struggling to finish writing this. He would call me before I go to sleep. Now I will always be waiting for his phone call.”
Kidane’s sister Hellen added: “From the time when my brother was gruesomely attacked and murdered I lost the full confidence of my life.
“Every morning when I wake up I have to remind myself that people like the man who stabbed my brother will be able to hurt me. I used to love going out and getting together with family and friends until he took Kidane’s life away.”
In sentencing remarks His Honour Judge Blair KC said: “From what has emerged during the course of this trial I have heard how Kidane Gebrehiwot was a kind hearted man – in Amarinya: ‘Gebrehiwot’ means ‘Servant of Life’. I am sure that is what he was to his family.
“The witness I heard from who knew him [Kidane Gebrehiwot], the statements which were read out to the jury from others who knew him in Gloucester, and the impact statement from his sister Hellen (who has gathered together the comments of his family, including those of his two children and other siblings), all paint a picture of a man who is going to be deeply missed. Especially by those children who were only just beginning to get to know him again better.
“Samwen Muiruri’s previous convictions from 2016, on top of these convictions, now establishes the clear conclusion that he is a man who can become terrifyingly violent if crossed by others.
“If you [Samwen Muiruri] had not been a coward and you had pleaded guilty, rather than pretending that it wasn’t you who killed Kidane, you may well have been eligible for release from prison four years sooner than you will now be.”
