A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of his involvement in the death of Junior Osborne in Leicester.
Clifford Alvarez, also known as Cliffy, was convicted of murder following a trial at Leicester Crown Court. He was also found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon.
Picture credit: Leicestershire Police
On Friday (14 February), he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years.
In May of last year, Nero McLean was convicted of murdering 50-year-old Mr. Osborne on 27 September 2023 in Leicester. During the same trial, four others—Nevardo McLean, Theobald ‘Thendo’ Budzwa, Moises Steiner, and James Williams—were found guilty of manslaughter. CCTV footage captured the group together before, during, and after Mr. Osborne was fatally stabbed while cycling along Narborough Road.
One man in the group was seen riding a bicycle, which he stopped in front of Mr. Osborne as he attempted to ride away—just moments before the fatal stabbing.
At the time of the trial, the identity of the man on the pushbike was unknown. Although his image was shared by the charity Crimestoppers, no name was provided in the public appeal.
During the trial, Nero McLean and two other witnesses referred to the unidentified man as ‘DJ’. After their conviction, officers were able to identify him as Alvarez, who was arrested on 9 July of last year. Despite denying he went by that nickname, 45-year-old Alvarez was positively identified and subsequently charged.
Detective Inspector Mark Parish of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), the senior investigating officer, stated: “We always knew there was another person involved in the plot to kill Junior and that he needed to be brought to justice. Thanks to information revealed during the previous trial and the persistence of the investigation team, we were able to identify him as the man on the pushbike who stopped Junior, allowing Nero McLean to fatally stab him.”
“I hope this brings some reassurance to the community that we will always pursue those responsible for such dreadful crimes and ensure they are held accountable.”
