Doncaster Man Murdered his Stepdad

11 April 2013, 18:56 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Doncaster man, who murdered his stepdad at Christmas, has been jailed.

25 year old Jay Griffiths, from Doncaster, strangled  40 year old Andrew Massarella, on Christmas Eve 2011.

His body was found after a fire broke out at his flat in Middleham Road, in Cantley, Doncaster.

Griffiths, who pleaded guilty to murder at a hearing last month, was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years in prison.

64 year old Robert Danby, and Zena Hancock, 45, both from Doncaster, were also jailed after admitting helping Griffiths flee the town shortly after the killing.

Danby was sentenced to two years in prison and Hancock to 19 months after pleading guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Following the sentencing Mr Massarella's parents Nick and Diane Massarella, sisters Louise and Maria and brother Richard said they had been left "devastated" by his death.

"Andrew was a much loved son, brother and uncle," they said.

"Our family were devastated when Andrew died. He had everything to live for.

"We will never understand why Jay Griffiths did what he did. He cannot begin to understand the loss that we feel."

Mr Massarella's body was found at his home in Callender Court by firefighters in the early hours of Christmas Eve.