In the United Kingdom, a 15-year-old boy who fatally stabbed a teenager in Birmingham city center has been sentenced to life in prison. According to the BBCMuhammad Hassam Ali, 17, died in hospital in January this year, hours after he and his friend were followed by two masked 15-year-old boys before being attacked in Victoria Square. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of murder and possession of a knife and was sentenced to a minimum term of 13 years on Friday. The second 15-year-old, who was nearby, was convicted of manslaughter and possession of a knife and was sentenced to five years in a secure facility.

Both boys showed no emotion as they were sentenced by Judge Garnham. Sentencing both men, Mr Garnham said the murder of 17-year-old Ali was “yet another illustration of the appalling consequences of carrying knives in public places”. “It is abundantly clear to me (Ali) was a much-loved son and brother and his family has been completely devastated by his death,” he said. BBC.

Separately, in a statement, Ali’s family said: “As a family we still can’t bear to think about how he died, even writing the word murdered destroys a little bit of us again. The loss of Muhammad, or any child, is devastating and destructive of lives, but the fact that someone took their own life so brutally and in such a horrific way will always haunt us. »

The family added that teachers noticed Ali’s kindness toward others, while classmates described him as talkative and friendly. “He dreamed of becoming an engineer and his passion was to work hard to achieve his goal. This dream will no longer come true, not because he wants to work hard but through the hands of another,” they said.

Meanwhile, a trial earlier this year heard the 17-year-old and his friend were simply sitting, chatting about cricket over hot chocolate and using their phones when they were approached by the two masked boys. The young people followed them from the Grand Central shopping center before confronting Ali and his friend in Victoria Square.

The defendants wearing Covid-style masks had asked the two men if they knew who had “jumped one of their friends” a week previously. This sparked an argument, with Ali telling both men he didn’t know what they were talking about. That’s when one of them pulled out a large knife and stabbed Ali in the chest before fleeing the scene.

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In his testimony, the 15-year-old told the court he only wanted to “scare” Ali and his friend and did not intend to seriously injure or kill anyone. He said he carried a knife when he went to crowded places for protection because he had been attacked several times before and felt “regretted and upset” when he found out that he had killed Ali.

The other youth told police he was “shocked and in tears” after the incident. He claimed he did not know his friend had a knife on him until he presented it. He also said he had never seen Ali or his friend before and had only accompanied the killer in case he “got beaten”.

Michael Ivers KC, representing the accused, said he was remorseful and prayed regularly for Ali and his family. He is not at all a man who is proud of what happened. He really, really regrets what happened. If he could go back, not for his own sake but because of the impact it had on others, he would,” he said.