.svg)
Two men have pleaded not guilty to murdering a cyclist who died more than three years after he was struck by a ball bearing in St Leonards. Joshua O’Toole, 29, of Mount Avenue, Maidstone, and Lloyd Powell, 32, of no fixed address, appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, where they both denied the charge and were released on court bail until a further hearing.
The case concerns Stephen McMurdo, a 71-year-old from Bexhill, who was cycling along Bexhill Road in St Leonards on the evening of 10 July 2020 when he was struck by a ball bearing. He suffered a serious head injury which resulted in left-side paralysis. Mr McMurdo died on 22 October 2023, and the charges against the two men were subsequently upgraded from grievous bodily harm to murder.
O’Toole and Powell had originally been charged with grievous bodily harm on 28 July 2023 in connection with the incident. However, before that case could be heard at court, Mr McMurdo died. The Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the matter and concluded that the men should face a murder charge. Both defendants now stand accused of the more serious offence, and their not guilty pleas mean a full trial is expected to take place at a date yet to be confirmed.
The decision to grant bail is a standard procedural step and does not imply any presumption of guilt. Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that the next hearing will set a timetable for the trial, where the prosecution will present its case and examine the circumstances surrounding Mr McMurdo’s death and the causal link to the 2020 incident.
Following the court appearance, Stephen McMurdo’s wife, Jaki, released a personal tribute through Sussex Police. Daily Dazzling Dawn learned that she described her husband as a loving family man who remained resilient despite the profound changes to his life after the incident.
“Steve was a wonderful husband, father and brother who loved, supported and understood me. He made me laugh a lot,” Mrs McMurdo said. “Steve enjoyed being outside either in the garden or walking our dog Cali; he also watched awful B films, either horror or thriller. Steve cycled everywhere—to work, shopping or pleasure.”
The couple had been married for 25 years. Reflecting on the impact of the incident, she added: “We were married for 25 years and although the last five were different, he never lost his sense of humour. We will always miss and love him.” The tribute offers a glimpse of a man remembered not solely for the tragedy that altered his life, but for his warmth, his love of the outdoors, and his enduring wit.
The incident in July 2020 sent shockwaves through the St Leonards and Bexhill communities. Sussex Police have continued to appeal for information and witnesses as the investigation has progressed. The long interval between the incident and the murder charge reflects the meticulous legal and medical work required to establish a direct connection between the actions of the accused and the victim’s death.
Daily Dazzling Dawn notes that cases of this nature are complex, often requiring detailed evidence about the victim’s medical history and the long-term consequences of their injuries. The forthcoming trial will examine those issues in depth, with both defendants maintaining their innocence.
For the McMurdo family, the court proceedings represent another stage in a long and painful journey. The tribute from Jaki McMurdo serves as a reminder of the human story behind the legal headlines: a husband, father, and brother whose life was forever changed on a summer evening in 2020, and whose family continue to seek justice and closure.
The case will return to Lewes Crown Court for a further hearing, at which point a trial date is expected to be set. Until then, both O’Toole and Powell remain on bail. Sussex Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
Daily Dazzling Dawn will provide further updates as the legal process unfolds. For now, the focus remains on the memory of Stephen McMurdo and the family he leaves behind.
.jpg)
