Two teenage boys who carried out a violent attack on a father outside his mother’s home in south Wales were later jailed for life. The assault happened after the man delivered groceries to his mother late at night. What followed was a sudden and brutal attack that ended with the victim being stabbed in the heart.
The victim, 38-year-old Kamran Aman, was described in court as a caring family man who was devoted to his wife and young child.
The incident happened during the night between June 30 and July 1, 2025, in the town of Barry, south Wales. Earlier that evening, two teenagers from Llantwit Major—17-year-old Marcus Staniforth and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons—had been drinking alcohol at a nearby property.
Prosecutor Owen Edwards KC told Cardiff Crown Court that the younger boy had been behaving in a “volatile and aggressive manner” throughout the evening.
At some point during the day, the 16-year-old had also painted racist graffiti on the wall of the house where he had been staying. According to the judge, he wrote the words “where they n****** at” on the wall.
Later that night, Kamran Aman finished work and spent time with his wife and young child. Before going home, he drove to his mother’s house to drop off groceries. His mother, Shenaz Aman, lived on the same street where the teenagers had been drinking.
After delivering the shopping, Mr Aman sat in his car outside the house. He appeared ready to leave and return home to his family. Inside the nearby property, the 16-year-old noticed Mr Aman sitting in the car through a window.
The judge later explained that the teenager focused on him because of his race. “He noticed he was not white,” the judge said in court. “Mr Aman caught his eye because he was black.”
The teenager then went outside and approached the car. According to the court, he tried to open the car door. Mr Aman got out of the vehicle, and the teenager immediately started attacking him.
What began as a confrontation quickly turned into a violent assault.
The 16-year-old repeatedly punched Mr Aman. Court proceedings later described the attack as sustained and aggressive. Marcus Staniforth soon joined the assault. Prosecutors said he took part to a limited extent, throwing punches and delivering one hard kick.
Despite being outnumbered, Mr Aman tried to defend himself. But the attack did not stop. At one point during the violence, Staniforth ran back to the nearby property where the teenagers had been drinking earlier. Moments later, he came back carrying a large kitchen knife.
The situation then turned deadly.
Staniforth used the knife to stab Mr Aman in the heart. Passers-by who were nearby rushed to help when they saw the injured man. Some people tried to stop the bleeding and keep him alive while emergency services were called to the scene.
Despite their efforts, the injury was severe. Mr Aman was later pronounced dead at 1: 07 a.m.
The attackers ran away after the stabbing. According to the court, they tried to clean the knife with bleach in an attempt to remove evidence. However, police soon identified them as suspects.
Bodycam footage later showed the moment officers arrested the teenagers. During the arrest, Staniforth could be heard shouting “What?” while the younger boy appeared to be crying.
Both boys were taken into custody and questioned by police. During interviews, Staniforth claimed he had acted in self-defence. He denied using a knife and also denied shouting racist language during the attack.
The other teenager also denied responsibility for the violence. He claimed he did not intend to cause serious harm and said he did not know that Staniforth had a knife. Both defendants later admitted to manslaughter.
However, the case proceeded to trial at Cardiff Crown Court, where a jury examined the evidence and testimony in detail. After hearing the case, the jury convicted both teenagers of murder.
During the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Griffiths described the attack as senseless and deeply tragic. “On the night between June 30 and July 1, 2025, you both murdered a man you didn’t know,” he told the defendants.
“Kamran Aman was a dutiful family man. He had just delivered some shopping to his mother’s house. He was in his car, ready to go back to his partner and four-year-old child when you picked on him and killed him in the street. As well as ending his life, you ruined the lives of the family he left behind.”
The judge said the younger boy had started the attack and had been motivated by racism. “He wanted to hurt him really badly because he was not white – that was his only reason,” the judge said.
“He was shouting racist abuse at him, calling him n-word and p-word, over and over again.”
Mr Justice Griffiths said Staniforth himself was “not racist but he was violent” and chose to support the attack.
When addressing the 16-year-old during sentencing, the judge said: “You instigated a deliberate, unprovoked, sustained, violent, racist attack.
“You were old enough and mature enough to know that trying to cause a complete stranger really serious injury because of his race was wrong, and you knew exactly what you were doing.”
The judge also lifted reporting restrictions on Marcus Staniforth, meaning he could be publicly identified. However, legal restrictions remained in place for the younger boy, preventing the media from naming him.
Both teenagers received life sentences. Staniforth was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years in custody. The 16-year-old was told he must serve at least 15 years.
During the hearing, the court was told that both defendants had troubled childhoods. Each had also been diagnosed with ADHD.
The victim’s family shared emotional statements describing the impact of the loss. Mr Aman’s mother, Shenaz Aman, told the court that the death of her son had left her feeling “upset and lonely.”
His wife, Khaleela, spoke about the life they had built together and the deep loss their family continues to feel. She described her husband as “kind to everyone and someone you could rely on in times of need.” She also said he was devoted to his family.
“Life for us will never be the same without Kamran,” she said. There’s a hole in our hearts that can never be filled. The day he died, part of us died with him. There’s no sentence that will ever be enough for these two boys.”
Detective Inspector Kath Barry from South Wales Police also spoke about the case and the effect it had on the victim’s loved ones. “Kamran did nothing whatsoever to warrant this,” she said.
“The violence could never have been foreseen and was made even more shocking by the abhorrent racist abuse used before, during and after, all captured on video footage.”
She added that the attack had deeply affected the family.
“Within a matter of minutes, the lives of Kamran’s family changed forever, and they are still trying to comprehend how this could possibly have happened, particularly outside the house they have called home for almost 20 years.
“They have behaved with dignity and remarkable composure during the proceedings, despite having to listen to the unbearable details of his death.”
