January will see the trial of two guys who are charged with killing a parent in a Northampton park by stabbing him with a “heart of gold.”
In relation to the death of Tommy Boom, 30, Daniel Larman and Kieran Okocha-Sleight, both 21, of Woodside Way, Northampton, are accused with murder and knife possession.
The father of one, Mr. Boom, passed away on Thursday, July 18, just after midnight in Millers Meadow, also referred to as Semilong Park in the community, following stab wounds, according to Northamptonshire Police.
On Monday, the defendants were charged after being taken into custody in Birmingham.
Larman appeared at Northampton Crown Court for a short preliminary hearing in person on Wednesday, while Okocha-Sleight appeared via video link from HMP Bedford.
Judge Adrienne Lucking KC was informed by prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC that he anticipated a trial to run ten to twelve days.
Larman and Okocha-Sleight were remanded into detention by Judge Lucking, but she also mandated that they both show up in person for their plea hearing the following month.
“We moved from East London to Northampton when Tommy was about ten years old, and even though he was incredibly shy as a child, he loved the outdoors and his social life,” they stated. He used to gripe as a teenager about how school interfered with his social life.
“Tommy had a lot of friends and a heart of gold. He was such a sweet character. He had a deep love for his daughter. We are devastated that they won’t get the opportunity to spend a lifetime making memories with each other.
Our family is close-knit, and both of our parents are from large families that were very important in his upbringing, particularly when we were residing in Canning Town. Our world was shattered when we had to inform them he had died.
“We saw a different side of Tommy, one which he rarely showed to others. He was kind and could be quite sensitive, but he loved life and socialising. He had the most beautiful smile – it would always light up the room.
“Fitness was an absolute passion of his along with going to the gym, but he was also a foodie – loved to cook, looking for new recipes and of, course, eating. He could eat a three-course meal but still have room for a midnight snack.
“As a family we still feel numb about what has happened, it just doesn’t feel real that he is dead. It has just absolutely destroyed us.
“Reading all the tributes on social media along with the cards and flowers at Semilong Park has provided some source of comfort. It’s been nice to see how loved he was by other people and how he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.”
