Family pay tribute to Sam Wilson- ‘the most genuine soul you could ever meet’

The family of Samuel Wilson, a 26-year-old man who was murdered in Ilkeston Market place have paid tribute to ‘the most loving, kind-hearted, genuine soul that you could ever meet’.

Sam had been on a night out with his friends, but was killed by Zac Newman, of The Crescent, Stapleford, who drove a van into the crowd where Sam was stood in the early hours of Saturday 16th December. 2023.

Twenty-seven-year-old Newman was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years at Derby Crown Court on 5th July 2024.

While the family have asked for their privacy to be respected, they allowed Derbyshire Police to share a photo of Sam, and provided a statement:

“Sam, our gorgeous blue-eyed boy, was the most loving, kind-hearted, genuine soul that you could ever meet. A true gentleman. He’d genuinely do anything for anyone that needed help and always had such a positive attitude towards life. He had a witty and cheeky sense of humour that only he could get away with.

“Sam was always smiling, he had time for everyone that was lucky enough to meet him. He was a talented football player for his local team and supported Derby County, never missing a game. Sam was the brains of the family; he went to Sheffield university where he earnt his degree. He was a roofer who aspired to set up his own business one day alongside his Dad.

“Sam wasn’t just Sam. To us he was our Son, Brother, Boyfriend, Uncle, Nephew, Grandson, Cousin, and friend to many. We ask ourselves daily- why did this happen to Sam?

“Innocently enjoying a Christmas night out with his mates and taken away from us all in the most barbaric and traumatic circumstances. Far too early at only 26-years-old.

“Sam has had the opportunity to live his life selfishly ripped away from him within minutes. He had two young nieces that would call him “Uncle Moonhead” who he will not get the opportunity to watch grow and spoil them as he always did. Sam will not be able to experience life milestones and we have also had the opportunity to experience them alongside him taken from us in the most tragic way, murdered by another human.”

They said: “Sam’s life wasn’t the only one that was destroyed in the early hours of 16 December. Everyone that knew Sam, that loved him, and that witnessed Sam’s life being taken, have been left completely heartbroken, traumatised, and devastated by the events in December. It’s been a living nightmare for us all, something that we will never get over and we too will serve a life sentence for the rest of our life without our boy here with us.

“We know that no sentence will ever be enough or bring Sam back or ease the pain that we all feel.

“We would like to thank everyone that has supported us and helped to get Sam justice throughout these past six months.”

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Croome, who led the investigation, said: “The sentencing marks the end of an incredibly tragic and horrifying case, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Sam Wilson.

“Sam was simply out with his friends enjoying a night out on the run up to Christmas. He was a complete stranger to Zac Newman and had been minding his own business. He was an innocent bystander whose life was senselessly taken by Newman’s reckless and irresponsible actions.”

DCI Croome added: “During that night Newman made a series of deliberate and dangerous decisions, drinking alcohol and taking cocaine on numerous occasions. He had been violent and confrontational towards others in the Market Place, and this ended with him taking the horrific act of driving his van into a group of people.

“Newman’s behaviour had severe and devastating consequences and no sentence can ever truly compensate for the loss experienced by Sam’s loved ones. I hope that they will feel some measure of justice and peace as they continue to live with the impact of Newman’s actions.”