Man accused of murdering Shanice Brookes outside Sheffield bar avoids court due to 'mental health'

A man accused of shooting a woman dead outside a Sheffield bar has been remanded in custody - but did not appear in court due to his "mental health".

Jemele Rhone has been charged with murdering Shanice Brookes, 30, along with possessing a firearm and criminal property - namely £10,000.

The mother-of-one was shot dead near the One Four One bar on West Street in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday.

She was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead.

Rhone, 30, did not appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Friday after his solicitor said he had asked to stay in the cells due to his "mental health".

District Judge Tim Spruce agreed and remanded him in custody. Co-accused Deiryen Dyce, 32, did appear and was flanked by three security guards.

She is charged with assisting an offender, possessing ammunition, possessing heroin, cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, and possessing criminal property (£2,000).

Dyce was also remanded in custody and both defendants are scheduled to appear again at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Oliver Farrell said Rhone was accused of firing the shot that killed Ms Brookes, a charity worker who was also doing an arts degree and had a 10-year-old son.

Mr Farrell said she was an "entirely innocent bystander" and that Dyce was accused of helping Rhone "post incident".

Ammunition found on Dyce had been linked to cartridges found at the scene and both of the accused were arrested on the A555 Manchester Airport link road, the prosecutor added.

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Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "Shanice was an entirely innocent bystander who should've been able to enjoy a night out in our city without the fear that she wouldn't come home safely."

Sheffield College principal Angela Foulkes said Ms Brookes had been preparing to exhibit her final work ahead of graduating and called her an "exceptional student"

"Her creative potential was clear to everyone who worked with her," she said.

The community charity she worked for, Zest, called her "a truly beautiful soul who touched so many lives".

(c) Sky News 2026: Man accused of murdering Shanice Brookes outside Sheffield bar avoids court due to 'mental health'