A man was captured on police bodycam footage being arrested in a shed shortly after fatally stabbing his romantic rival. Michael James, aged 45, fatally stabbed Bradley Hollis, 35, during a confrontation at his residence in March 2025.
James lived in the house with his former girlfriend Zara Tolley, from whom he separated after a decade-long relationship. Following their breakup, Mr. Hollis, a father of four, began a relationship with Ms. Tolley, which triggered James’ violent response while his own children were asleep upstairs.
James was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a bladed weapon in a public place. He also confessed to assaulting Ms. Tolley before the fatal attack on Mr. Hollis.
During the sentencing, Judge Graham Reeds KC addressed James, stating that his actions towards Mr. Hollis were driven by jealousy and concern over his presence at the house. The court emphasized Mr. Hollis’ positive impact on his loved ones and the irreplaceable void his death left in their lives.
A court hearing revealed that James and Ms. Tolley lived together in Sheffield with their children. The prosecution highlighted the turbulent relationships between the individuals involved, leading to restrictions on Mr. Hollis’ visits to the family home.
Text messages exchanged between James and Ms. Tolley prior to the incident indicated his threatening behavior towards her and Mr. Hollis. The prosecution described a violent altercation between James and Ms. Tolley before the fatal encounter with Mr. Hollis.
Eyewitnesses testified to the physical altercation between James and Mr. Hollis, escalating to a deadly knife attack by James. The court determined that James had used the knife aggressively rather than in self-defense.
Police bodycam footage captured James’ arrest in a shed during the night. In addition to the prison sentence, a restraining order was issued against James, prohibiting him from contacting Ms. Tolley directly.
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