Terrifying incident: Canine caretaker pursued and fatally stabbed by three individuals in broad daylight daylight attack
In a shocking turn of events, Kieran Shepherd, a dog walker from Great Baddow near Chelmsford, was stabbed to death on October 15, 2021. The incident, which occurred at around 12:24 PM, has led to the arrest and charging of three men, Zack O'Keefe, Joseph Dawe, and Harrison Carpenter, all aged 20.
According to reports, the chase and subsequent stabbing took place in an alleyway where O'Keefe, Carpenter, and Shepherd had allegedly met to deal drugs. It is claimed that during the altercation, Shepherd pulled out a knife. O'Keefe, in his defence, stated that he was acting as a vigilante, protecting a 14-year-old from Shepherd's past actions.
The incident was captured on CCTV footage, providing crucial evidence in the case. The chase and the stabbing were reported to have lasted for six minutes, with Shepherd found lying on the floor at 1:22 PM and pronounced dead at the scene.
O'Keefe, Carpenter, and Dawe were on the run for around half an hour after the incident before they were located. O'Keefe admitted dealing cocaine to Shepherd about a month or two before his death. Carpenter handed himself in at a police station on October 16, while O'Keefe and Dawe were found on October 18.
A knife belonging to Shepherd was found at the scene, with O'Keefe claiming that Shepherd was reaching for it during the altercation. O'Keefe's girlfriend, Ms McElvaney, stated that he didn't hide the fact that he is a drug dealer. Furthermore, during their time at a caravan in Clacton on Sea, the defendants discussed the need to burn clothes, according to Ms McElvaney.
O'Keefe told the court that he "panicked" and felt his and his friends' lives could have been at risk during the chase. The three defendants are referred to as the "three musketeers" by one of the witnesses.
The lawyer arguing for the prosecution in the case against Christina Block at the Hamburg Regional Court is the public prosecutor Mona Paul. The trial is ongoing, with each defendant presenting their version of the events that led to Shepherd's tragic death.
