DRUG dealers who perverted the course of justice after the fatal stabbing of a father-of-two have been sentenced for a total of more than 17 years.

Jay Dice, Toyn Williams and Kayley Hodgkinson appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday for sentencing after they were found guilty of perverting the course of justice following the murder of Murdoch Brown in Greenstead, Colchester.

The 31-year-old was left in the street to die after being stabbed by Reece McHutcherson.

McHutcherson, 20, of Pillow Way, Buckingham, was found guilty of Murdoch’s murder following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court last month. He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years.

Williams, 29, of Winchester Road, Hale End in east London, was cleared of murder, manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm.

He was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and was sentenced to seven and a half years in jail.

Yesterday the court heard Williams was directing drugs operations from the safety of London in a “managerial role”.

Gazette:

Dice, 23, of Mayville Road, Leytonstone, was also cleared of murder and causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He had previously admitted being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

At yesterday’s sentencing, Judge Patricia Lynch said: “Mr Williams was in charge but you were next in line, and handed the drugs to the runners.

“However, you pleaded guilty to in relation to this matter which entitles you to 25 per cent of time off your sentence.”

Dice was sentenced to a total of six years and 19 weeks imprisonment for perverting the course of justice and supplying class A drugs.

Another runner for the drugs line, Kayley Hodgkinson, 32, of Cedars Road, Colchester, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Lynch said: “Your method of involvement is not clear. You were an employed drug dealer and possibly coerced into agreements.”

She was jailed for three years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The attack took place on Murdoch and his brother, Robert, in the early hours of May 7, 2019.

Robert Brown, who had been in debt to a drugs line and planned to speak to someone from the gang to explain how he would pay it back.

But as he did so, McHutcherson pulled out a kitchen knife. The brothers fled but Murdoch was stabbed five times.