Two men have been found guilty of murdering Tobias Bruce after he was stabbed to death in Oxford earlier this year.

Ryan Byrne, 35, of Hathaway Green Lane, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and George Stephens, 27, of no fixed abode, were on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with the murder of Mr Bruce.

The 32-year-old father died from five stab wounds after attempting to steal a Cartier watch from the men in College Lane, Littlemore, at about 6.05pm on Sunday, February 25.

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He was pronounced dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital on February 28.

(Image: Family handout)

Both men were also charged with a Section 18 – wounding with intent of Brandon Day, who was taken to hospital alongside Mr Bruce. The jury found them both guilty.

The jury delivered their verdicts on Wednesday afternoon (October 16) after several hours of deliberating.

As the verdicts were being read, Byrne began laughing and smiling. Stephens made no reaction.

Judge Ian Pringle, who was presiding over the case, thanked the jury for their time and dedication to the case.

He welcomed them to return to the sentencing of the men which will take place at the same court on Thursday, October 24.

In the meantime, they will remain in custody at HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester.

During the trial, it was heard that two groups of men had a pre-arranged meeting on the evening of the incident involving the sale of a Cartier watch.

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Mr Bruce, who attended the meeting with Mr Day and another man named Iain Milligan, was interested in purchasing the watch from Theodore Mullings-Fairweather, who attended with Byrne and Stephens.

The men met and Mullings-Fairweather handed the watch to Mr Bruce to inspect and the card indicating its authenticity was handed to Mr Day.

Prosecutor John Benson KC explained that the meeting ‘was cordial to begin with’ but Mr Bruce had ran off with the watch with Day and Mulligan running with him.

Mr Bruce ran towards Cowley Road, pursued by Byrne and Mullings-Fairweather. Mr Day and Mr Mulligan ran towards Giles Close pursued by Stephens.

It is here that Byrne pursued Mr Bruce alongside Mullings-Fairweather and Stephens went after Mr Day.

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The court heard Mullings-Fairweather travelled to Dubai after the incident so is not on trial. He sent an email to a solicitor in April 'protesting his innocence'. 

Mr Benson KC concluded during the trial opening: “You can be in no doubt that Bruce was intent on stealing the watch and theft of a watch is a serious matter.

“But theft is not the most serious of offences in the criminal calendar – the offence of murder is.”

The watch was never recovered.