Brother and Sister Guilty of Brutal Birmingham Murder

A brother and sister have been convicted of murdering a 21-year-old man in broad daylight after a violent knife attack in Birmingham that may have been sparked by a row over a damaged bicycle or a delay during a cannabis deal.

Isaiah Marsh, 20, and Mya Marsh, 23, both of Teviot Grove, Kings Norton, were found guilty of murder at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, following a trial that heard shocking details of the pair’s “frankly brutal” assault on Minister Enfrence in November last year.

Jurors took less than four hours to unanimously convict the siblings, who had denied murder and manslaughter.

Mr Enfrence was stabbed more than 20 times in the Medway Grove area of Kings Norton on the morning of 5 November 2024. CCTV footage showed the pair confronting the victim, with Mya brandishing a kitchen knife and later handing it to her brother during the attack.

Prosecutors said the siblings lured Mr Enfrence to the scene under the pretence of a drug deal. When Isaiah arrived shortly after being called by his sister, he launched into a sustained assault, stabbing Mr Enfrence repeatedly in the body, arms, hands and head.
Despite managing to flee the scene, the victim collapsed nearby due to the extent of his injuries. Members of the public attempted to help him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard that after the killing, Mya walked away with Mr Enfrence’s bicycle and went to work as if nothing had happened. Her brother fled the scene by bike before later attending hospital with injuries to his hands. The pair tried to hide evidence by stashing two knives and the clothes they wore during the murder in a wheelie bin.

During the trial, Isaiah claimed he acted in self-defence, while Mya insisted she never believed her brother would actually use the knife. However, CCTV clearly showed her handing him the weapon and joining in the attack.

Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt, who led the investigation, described the killing as “a brutal and cold-hearted attack in broad daylight,” adding: “The vicious nature of the attack is highlighted by the number of wounds that Minister suffered. The callous nature shown by the two afterwards further highlighted their nonchalant attitude after taking the life of a man.”

Mr Enfrence’s family issued a tribute following the verdicts, saying:

“Minister, you have been taken from us so abruptly and this has made an impact in our lives, leaving a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled. But we are happy to say you are now with the Lord in a better place. We will meet you again in eternity.”
Both defendants have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Thursday.

Access to the Law: Understanding Joint Enterprise and Knife Crime

This case offers a clear example of how the law treats joint participation in violent crime. Under the doctrine of joint enterprise, individuals who intentionally assist or encourage another to commit a crime can be found just as guilty as the person who carried out the act itself.

Even though only Isaiah Marsh physically stabbed the victim, the court found that his sister, Mya Marsh, knowingly assisted him by arming herself, brandishing a knife, and ultimately handing it to him. Her actions showed clear intent to support the attack, making her equally liable for murder.

This principle is rooted in case law and clarified by decisions such as R v Jogee [2016] UKSC 8, which established that for someone to be convicted under joint enterprise, they must intend to assist or encourage the crime, not merely foresee that it might happen.

The law surrounding knife crime is equally strict. It is a criminal offence to carry a knife in public without good reason, and when a knife is used to commit murder, the court treats it as a serious aggravating factor. In such cases, life imprisonment is mandatory, with the judge determining the minimum term before parole can be considered.

Together, these legal principles send a strong message: those who aid or enable violent crimes involving knives will be held fully accountable under the law.