Party Turns Deadly as Man Stabs Guest to Death in Toxteth
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that Trene Colecozy-Rogers stabbed and killed 26-year-old Dre Estridge during a family gathering in Toxteth on 25 June 2020. The tragic killing took place at a house on Oakham Street, where Dijiuna Garrett and her family were holding their annual memorial for her late two-year-old son, O’Shea, who died in 1997.
Birthday Remembrance Ends in Violence
The event started around 4pm and went on until the early hours. Marita Colecozy, a close family friend, attended along with her daughter Rene. But as the night wore on, Marita became more intoxicated and agitated.
- She attacked a young man who refused to dance with her, then fell and injured herself.
- Her aggressive behaviour worsened, prompting the family to call her son Trene to take her home.
Argument Escalates to Fatal Stabbing
Dre was in his brother Denzil’s room when Trene arrived. The two men argued, with witnesses overhearing Trene say, “Lad, I’ll poke you with it.” Dre retorted, “If you’re gonna poke me with it, poke me with it.”
The families had grown up together, so the tension wasn’t immediately alarming. But minutes later, Dre’s sister Demmere saw Trene rush down the stairs and leave the house. Dre was found on the bedroom floor with a deep stab wound to his chest.
The murder weapon was a knife that Ms Garrett had used for decorating days earlier. Trene had stabbed Dre through the chest, severing his aorta—the main artery carrying blood from the heart. The injury caused massive internal bleeding, and Dre died almost instantly.
Fugitive Arrested After Failing to Surrender
Paramedics rushed to the scene but could not save Dre. Trene fled, attempting to dispose of his clothes and clean the knife before dumping it. He did not turn himself in to police until three days later.
On 8 December 2020, a Liverpool Crown Court jury found Trene guilty of murder by an 11-1 majority.
“Trene admitted stabbing Dre but denied intending to kill him,” said Senior Crown Prosecutor Adrian Evans of CPS Mersey Cheshire. “We challenged that. If he didn’t intend serious harm, what did he expect would happen?”
“The jury saw through this and convicted him of murder. It’s a tragic loss of two young lives. The fact it happened at a memorial for a young child makes it even more heartbreaking for the family.”
“Knives devastate individuals, families, and communities. Our thoughts are with Dre’s family during this awful time.”
