Killer Dellan Charles hunted down Sean O’Neill, stabbing him repeatedly while shouting "Die, Die, Die!"—now he's jailed
By Ben Freeman
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Sean O’Neill, after an attack described in court as
"Ruthless and Premeditated."
Dellan Charles (DOB: 08/01/2001), of no fixed address, appeared before Kingston Crown Court on Monday, 17 March, where he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years before he can be considered for parole. His conviction followed a three-week trial, concluding with a guilty verdict for murder on 17 December 2023.
The court heard that on the evening of Thursday, 18 May 2023, an altercation between rival groups broke out on Reynolds Road, Hayes, West London. The dispute escalated, and as events unfolded, Sean O’Neill became separated from his group and attempted to flee.
CCTV footage presented in court showed Charles chasing O’Neill through a quiet residential street in broad daylight, armed with two large knives. Prosecutors detailed how Charles pursued his victim with clear intent, eventually cornering him before launching a frenzied attack. Witnesses heard Charles repeatedly shouting
"Die, Die, Die!"
as he inflicted multiple deep stab wounds to O’Neill’s body.
Following the attack, Charles was seen on CCTV calmly leaving the scene. He escaped by trespassing through suburban gardens before disposing of one of his weapons at a nearby property. He then went into hiding for nearly a year.
An extensive 10-month manhunt was launched by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime South Unit, with officers piecing together forensic, CCTV, and intelligence evidence to track Charles' movements. After avoiding capture for almost a year, he was finally arrested in Coventry on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, following a renewed police appeal.
Sentencing Charles, Judge Peter Lodder KC described the attack as:
"a deliberate and sustained act of extreme violence, committed with clear murderous intent."
Addressing Charles directly, the judge continued:
"You armed yourself with two knives and pursued your victim through the streets. This was not a moment of impulsive rage—it was a cold and calculated attack, in which you inflicted multiple fatal wounds while shouting 'die, die, die' in an act of pure aggression. You then fled and remained at large for nearly a year, evading justice. The gravity of this crime is reflected in the sentence I must pass today."
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Kevin Martin, who led the investigation, said:
"Sean O’Neill was mercilessly hunted down and killed in a brutal and senseless attack. He was unarmed, posed no threat, and was desperately trying to escape when he was cornered. The sheer violence of this murder is shocking, and I hope today’s sentence brings some measure of justice to Sean’s family."
In a statement, Sean O’Neill’s family thanked the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their work in securing Charles' conviction. They said:
"Sean will be remembered for his big heart, charming smile, and fun-loving personality. He is incredibly loved by us all, and we miss him every day."
Charles will now serve a minimum of 23 years before he is eligible for parole.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
Bénédict Tarot Freeman
Editor-at-Large
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