Teenagers jailed for murder after 'kind' dad stabbed in heart during racist attack

Two teenagers have been jailed for murder after a "kind" father was stabbed in the heart during an unprovoked racist attack.

Marcus Staniforth, 17, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, approached Kamran Aman, 38, after he delivered groceries to his mother's home in Barry, South Wales.

The pair, of Llantwit Major, kicked and punched Mr Aman, with the younger boy hurling racist abuse during and after the attack.

Staniforth brought a kitchen knife from a nearby property where the boys had been drinking alcohol, and stabbed Mr Aman in the heart.

Emergency services were called to the scene, but Mr Aman, who was married and had a young child, was pronounced dead at 1.07am on 1 July last year.

Mr Justice Griffiths told Cardiff Crown Court that he had lifted reporting restrictions relating to Staniforth so he could now be identified, but said those relating to the 16-year-old would remain in place.

The judge sentenced Staniforth to serve a minimum of 17 years in custody. The 16-year-old will serve a minimum of 15 years in prison.

He said: "On the night between June 30 and July 1 2025, you both murdered a man you didn't know.

"Kamran Aman was a dutiful family man. He had just delivered some shopping to his mother's house.

"He was in his car, ready to go back to his partner and four-year-old child when you picked on him and killed him in the street.

"As well as ending his life, you ruined the lives of the family he left behind."

Mr Justice Griffiths described how earlier that day, the 16-year-old had painted "where they n****** at" on the wall of a house.

The boy, who had taken cocaine, later spotted Mr Aman in his car.

"He noticed he was not white," the judge said. "Mr Aman caught his eye because he was black."

'Violent, racist attack'

The 16-year-old then attempted to open Mr Aman's car door, with the victim exiting the vehicle before being punched.

"He wanted to hurt him really badly, because he was not white - that was his only reason," the judge said.

"He was shouting racist abuse at him, calling him n-word and p-word, over and over again."

The judge said Staniforth was "not racist but he was violent", and wanted to help the 16-year-old with the attack.

Sentencing the 16-year-old, the judge told him: "You instigated a deliberate, unprovoked, sustained, violent, racist attack.

"You were old enough and mature enough to know that trying to cause a complete stranger really serious injury because of his race was wrong, and you knew exactly what you were doing."

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Both teenagers were arrested, and later admitted manslaughter.

They were convicted of murder following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

During the hearing on Friday, the court was told that both defendants had been diagnosed with ADHD, and had troubled childhoods.

Mr Aman's 'kindness to everyone'

In a victim personal statement, Mr Aman's mother told how she had been left "upset and lonely" by her son's murder.

His wife, Khaleela, described her husband as "kind to everyone and someone you could rely on in times of need" and devoted to his family.

"There's a hole in our hearts that can never be filled," she told the court.

(c) Sky News 2026: Teenagers jailed for murder after 'kind' dad stabbed in heart during racist attack