Men guilty of machete murder handed life sentences

Two men have received life sentences for killing a man with a machete during a "premeditated" attack in York.

Jobie Tyers and Michael Richard Mulvana were found guilty of murdering Indrit Mustafaj, 26, from Bradford, and injuring two others at a bedsit on Haxby Road in November 2024.

North Yorkshire Polcie said Tyers, 28, of no fixed address, and Mulvana, 32, of York, launched the attack after forcing their way into the property wearing face masks in order to steal drugs they believed were in the flat.

Both men received life sentences with a minimum term of 27 years and 295 days at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

A police spokesperson said Tyers and Mulvana had gone armed with weapons but used a machete found at the address to stab Mustafaj, also known as Mustang, a number of times.

He was taken to hospital with severe wounds, and died from a severed artery. The two other victims were given medical treatment and recovered.

Tyers pleaded guilty to robbery and denied the other offences, whereas Mulvana denied all charges.

Earlier this week, a jury found them both guilty following a trial.

Det Ch Supt Fran Naughton described Mustafaj's death as "brutal and tragic".

"While his attackers brought weapons to carry out this premeditated attack, our investigation revealed that the fatal injuries were inflicted with a machete they found when they got to the bedsit," she said.

"It was probably there with the intention of using it in self-defence, in the event of an attack like this. But by owning a knife you're potentially arming your attacker.

"Mulvana and Tyers are violent individuals who will now have an extremely long time in custody to reflect on what they've done," she added.

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