In a shocking and brutal turn of events, a young man was murdered in Sheffield early on March 9, 2024, following a calculated ambush orchestrated by local drug dealers. Saad Ali, 24, was lured to Ponderosa Park under the guise of a drug deal, only to be met with a violent attack that left him dead from multiple stab wounds.
The perpetrators—19-year-old Barnie Griffin and 17-year-old Jack Douglas—along with 25-year-old Rebecca Moore, had plotted the attack after feeling threatened by Saad’s presence in their drug territory. The trio, fueled by alcohol and drugs, discussed their plan at a flat owned by a known associate before executing their deadly scheme. Moore acted as bait, enticing Saad with promises of drugs and intimacy, leading him into a trap where Griffin and Douglas awaited with knives.
Witnesses reported hearing Saad’s desperate pleas for mercy as he was brutally assaulted. Despite his attempts to defend himself, he suffered 60 stab wounds, including a fatal injury that severed a major artery. By the time emergency services arrived, it was too late; Saad was pronounced dead shortly after 5 a.m.
In the aftermath, Griffin and Douglas fled the scene but soon succumbed to guilt and turned themselves in to police, while Moore initially evaded capture. However, her attempts to distance herself from the crime crumbled under scrutiny. CCTV footage and witness statements linked her directly to the murder plot, revealing her chilling lack of remorse.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Griffin and Douglas pleaded guilty to murder, while Moore maintained her innocence, claiming to be a victim of circumstance. The court ultimately found her guilty, sentencing all three to life in prison. This tragic case underscores the violent realities of drug-related crimes in the UK, leaving Saad’s family devastated and a community grappling with the loss of a young life.