Tearful mugshot of schoolgirl, 15, who organised brutal homicide of father and horror stabbing of his son in row over canine – as she and her accomplices are jailed for 66 years
A 15-year-old schoolgirl who organised the horrific murder of a father and a stabbing attack on his son following a row over a dog has been jailed for life.
Gary Belfield, 40, died after being stabbed 11 times with a knife and screwdriver when two masked raiders entered his home in Elliot Drive, Felling.
His son Luke Williams, 21, managed to escape despite suffering multiple wounds.
The attacks were carried out by Leandro Lopes, then 17, and Jordan Tams, 17, but were orchestrated by Kriesha Beyonce Stroud who is just 15, Newcastle Crown Court has heard.
The confrontation centred around Stroud’s intention to retrieve a dog she believed had once belonged to a relative of hers but was now living with Mr Belfield.
A tearful mugshot of Stroud was released following the sentence hearing today.
At the start of the hearing Mr Justice Constable lifted the restrictions which banned the identification of Tams, of Westley Court, Felling, and Stroud, of Eastcote Terrace, Walker.
Lopes, now 18, of Archer Street, Wallsend, North Tyneside, and the two youths all denied murder and attempted murder but were convicted by a jury after a trial last month.

A 15-year-old schoolgirl who ‘organised’ the horrific murder of a father and a stabbing attack on his son after a row over a dog has been jailed for life. Kriesha Beyonce Stroud,who is just 15, orchestrated the attacks, a court heard. Pictured: A tearful mugshot of Stroud

Gary Belfield (pictured), 40, died after being stabbed 11 times with a knife and screwdriver when two masked raiders entered his home in Elliot Drive, Felling

The confrontation centred around Stroud’s intention to retrieve a dog she believed had once belonged to a relative of hers but was now living with Mr Belfield. Pictured: Police forensic officers in Felling at the crime scene
Mr Justice Constable said the murder was: ‘Shocking, not just for its brutality and senselessness but because it was encouraged and carried out by three who were, at the time of the killing, children.’
The judge told Stroud: ‘This centred around the retrieval of a dog which you believed belonged to your half sister, following her relationship with Gary.’
Stroud, Tams and Lopes were each given a life sentence.
Stroud must serve a minimum of 20 years, Tams 26 years and Lopes 26 years.
But the judge warned them: ‘If you remain a danger you will serve longer than the minimum term and may never be released.’
Prosecutor Peter Moulson KC told jurors at the start of the trial Stroud knew someone who had had a previous falling out with the father and son and had told them they should ‘stab the c***’.
Stroud boasted after the violence that she had ‘watched it through the window’ and said ‘they stabbed him to bits, stabbed him in the head’ but it has now been proved the window was covered with a blind and she could not have seen in.

Leandro Lopes (pictured), now 18, of Archer Street, Wallsend, North Tyneside, and the two youths all denied murder and attempted murder but were convicted by a jury after a trial last month
She also claimed in conversations about Mr Williams running for help, his ‘guts were hanging out and everything, urgh’.
Mr Moulson said: ‘This is not a young girl shouting her mouth off and making fanciful remarks, it can surely be no coincidence she was saying those things and in fact they were stabbed at a time she was outside the house.’
Mr Williams had ran, bleeding and injured from the house in Felling, Gateshead, to a nearby garage to get help for himself and his father on April 27 last year.
Mr Moulson said a worker called 999 and added: ‘Luke Williams had staggered into the garage shouting ‘help me, they’re going to get me’.
‘He observed Mr Williams was covered in blood. He looked freezing, shaking and unsteady on his feet.
‘He had in fact just been attacked by a person or persons wielding knives and later medical examination of Mr Williams revealed he had suffered stab wounds to his left elbow, two to the back of his shoulder, one to his lower back with underlying bone damage to the spine and one sharp force injury to his left, upper cheek.

Stroud, Tams and Lopes were each given a life sentence. Stroud must serve a minimum of 20 years, Tams 26 years and Lopes 26 years. Pictured: Jordan Tams
‘He also had numerous sharp force injuries to his left hand and one on his right hand.’
Mr Moulson added: ‘Mr Williams went on to say he had just ran from his home address after being attacked and stabbed inside that address.
‘Mr Williams said he was concerned for his father, who was still inside those premises when he made good his escape. He was also worried the people who had attacked him might still be present.’
Police went to their home address where the attack had happened but added: ‘They discovered Mr Belfield, Mr Williams’ father, lying in the living room. He was noted to be pale, unresponsive and not breathing.
‘He was covered in blood and the attending police officers noted he had sustained multiple stab wounds to his upper and lower back, to his face and his arms.
‘Those stab wounds were still bleeding.
‘The police did what they could to administer First Aid and then the emergency personnel arrived by ambulance and took over treatment.
‘Unfortunately, despite best efforts of all concerned, in trying to save his life, he was declared dead by the ambulance personnel while in the place he had been found by the police, namely in the lounge.’
Chilling CCTV footage released by police shows Stroud leading the way along Felling High Street just moments after fleeing the scene.
Tams and Lopes can be seen following behind while fully wrapped up in puffer jackets trying to keep their heads down.
The dog, believed to be the one which sparked the confrontation, can be seen running across the road next to Stroud.
A post mortem examination showed Mr Belfield had stab wounds to his head, face, thigh, sole of his foot and both of his upper arms.

Chilling CCTV footage released by police shows Stroud leading the way just moments after fleeing the scene. Tams and Lopes can be seen following behind while fully wrapped up in puffer jackets trying to keep their heads down. The dog, believed to be the one which sparked the confrontation, can be seen running across the road next to Stroud
He had five stab wounds to the back, which damaged his ribs, lung and liver and an injury to his thigh had damaged a major artery and vein.
Mr Belfield also had black eyes.
Mr Williams told police he and his father had been at the pub for around half an hour that evening then returned home with fish and chips.
He said it was after they finished eating and had planned to go back out that they came under attack by masked raiders.
Mr Moulson said: ‘Mr Williams was ahead of his father in their route towards going out of the premises.
‘However, when Mr Williams got to the doorway of the sitting room which leads to the hallway he saw two men in the hallway.
‘One approached Mr Wiliams and struck him in the face. Mr Williams said he was then stabbed in the upper arm and his left upper side.

Mr Justice Constable said the murder was: ‘Shocking, not just for its brutality and senselessness but because it was encouraged and carried out by three who were, at the time of the killing, children’
‘Mr Williams turned away and was stabbed in the back.’
The court heard Mr Williams said he made attempts to grab the knife from the attacker while he was being stabbed.
Mr Moulson added: ‘As the attack on Mr Williams was going on, he saw the second male repeatedly stabbing his father.
‘Mr Williams recalls his father screaming in pain as this happened and his father lying on the floor with his arm and legs up, trying to avoid the knife blows being delivered to his head and body.
‘Mr Williams was forced to leave his father in those premises in order to avoid being attacked further and to try and get help.’
As Mr Williams ran for help he noticed Stroud outside.
Mr Moulson said: ‘The prosecution contend her position outside the address was no accident and that she had played what we contend was a major part in orchestrating this attack.
‘As Mr Williams passed her he said ‘what the f*** are you playing at’, to which she made no reply.

Pictured: Police forensic officers at Elliott Drive in Felling, Gateshead, where Gary Belfield died
‘It is the prosecution position that although she didn’t enter the home of Mr Williams, the prosecution say she was part of a joint plan to cause at least really serious injury to Mr Williams and Mr Belfied and that by her organisation of this attack we contend she is just as guilty as the two men who went into the house armed in the way that they were.’
Francis Fitzgibbon KC, defending Stroud, said the young teen, who used cannabis from the age of 8, grew up ‘without boundaries’ and both witnessed and experienced violence in her past.
Stroud, who still denies she actively encouraged or assisted in the murder, told people herself she had ‘no childhood’ and used cannabis as a ‘coping mechanism’.
Mr Fitzgibbon said since Stroud has been in custody on remand, she has experienced ‘structure, routine, authority over her, warmth, regular meals and education.’
Toby Hedworth KC, defending Lopes, said: ‘They are all, for better or for worse, damaged goods.’
Mr Hedworth told the court Lopes, who had a ‘dreadful upbringing’, came to the UK from Portugal, speaking very little English and was bullied.
Mark McKone KC, defending Tams, said the teen witnessed violence as a child and added: ‘If he had had a better and fairer start in life he is someone who could have made a life for himself.’