A LONDON man has been jailed for almost two decades for the murder of a Barnsley man earlier this year.

On February 21, 26-year-old Lazarus Makono was stabbed to death at a house party on Co-operative Street in Goldthorpe.

Emergency services were called at 1.21am to the house, where officers found Lazarus with stab wounds to his chest.

Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics, he died at the scene a short time later.

A police spokesperson said: “The court heard how a disagreement and fight had broken out between Laz and two other men at the party, Sipho Pfukani and Terrance Mlotshwa.

“It ended with Pfukani stabbing Lazarus repeatedly before leaving him to die and fleeing from the scene.

“Pfukani hid from police that night before handing himself in just a day later on February 22 at Nottingham Police Station, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

“A detective-led investigation saw officers uncover clothing that had been worn by the men at the time of the murder discarded in a woodland area near to the scene.

“The knife used to stab Laz was also recovered by officers from inside the house.”

Pfukani, 28, of Luxembourg Mews in London, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 18 years following a two-week trial.

Mlotshwa, 28, of Ripley Avenue, Derby, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, also at Sheffield Crown Court, to one count of assisting an offender and one count of fraud.

He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.