THE MOTHER of a young father stabbed to death in an Oxford street has paid tribute to her son - 'the most beautiful gift' - after his killers were jailed for life.

Luciano Dos Santos Almeida's mother Carla was speaking after three men were jailed for the 'savage' knife attack which took place in Southfield Road, Oxford, earlier this year.

After a trial at Oxford Crown Court two men – Michael Yemane, 20, of South Bridge Row, Oxford, and Welid Solomon, 26, of Field Avenue, Oxford – were found guilty of murder.

Safeen Karimi, 28, of Hode Garth, Thame, was cleared of murder but found guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter.

A fourth man – who defended himself from the witness box during the eight-week long trial – Sasan Khalid, 19, of no fixed abode, was roundly cleared of any wrongdoing.

READ MORE: Men convicted of Southfield Road murder sentenced.

The public gallery at the same court was packed yesterday as all three convicted of killing the 22-year-old were sentenced.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Almeida's mother paid tribute to her son who she said was 'the most beautiful gift I could ever have wished for'.

She said: "My son was a sweet, loving and strong-willed young man and there was no other like him.

"He loved spending time with his family, and most of all with his precious daughter, who he loved with all his heart.

"Luciano was adored by so many, those who knew him knew how kind-hearted he was.

"He was cheeky, loved helping others, and always had a smile on his face.

"Words cannot describe the feeling of losing your child so young and time will never heal this pain."

During the trial which began in September, jurors were told that the 'savage' killing began just before 11.20pm on February 27.

An earlier fight between Mr Almeida and Yemane and Solomon was the catalyst which led to the pair leaving for reinforcements in a bid to 'mete out some retribution'.

READ MORE: Oxford murder: full story of Luciano Dos Santos Almeida's death.

They were then joined by Karimi and after waiting for Mr Almeida on the corner of Southfield Road and Cowley Road Mr Almeida passed them.

It was at that moment, as seen in CCTV footage played to the court, that Solomon drove his Kia Picanto directly into Mr Almeida.

Seconds later the 22-year-old father to a young daughter was chased up Southfield Road by two of the defendants who stabbed him multiple times.

Mr Almeida, who was from Southampton, later died from his injuries at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Yesterday, Solomon and Yemane were handed life sentences for the killing.

Yemane was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years, while Solomon was given a minimum term of 26 years.

Solomon was also jailed for four years, to run concurrently, for perverting the course of justice by setting his car on fire after the incident.

Karimi was jailed for nine years for the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC called the attack 'savage' and said both Solomon and Yemane went to the scene armed with knives.

He said the men 'engineered a trap' for Mr Almeida who they saw 'as a threat to [their] drug dealing territory'.

Speaking after the three had been led away to begin their sentences, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Blaik called the murder 'a needless attack'.

READ MORE: WATCH: Footage of the minutes before 'savage' Oxford murder.

He said: "This violent and premeditated attack on Luciano Dos Santos Almeida resulted in the tragic death of a young father.

"He sustained severe injuries as a result of this incident and despite the best efforts of medical professionals, they were unable to save him.

"This was a needless attack which was sustained in its ferocity, and it can be in no doubt what the intention was from the outset."

Speaking of the police investigation he said: "My team's investigation has been thorough and professional, and I would like to thank them for their work in bringing the offenders to justice.

"Solomon, Yemane and Karimi will now serve long prison sentences as a result of their actions that night.

"Mr Almeida's family have had to endure many months of anguish while this brutal attack was investigated, and I would like to pay tribute to them for their patience and dignity throughout.

"Although no sentence will bring Mr Almeida back, I hope that these long prison terms will, in time, bring some element of closure to his family."