Boys jailed for fatal stabbing of 17-year-old in Birmingham city centre

Two 15 year-old boys have been jailed for the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in Birmingham city centre.

Muhammad Hassam Ali was stabbed by two masked males in Victoria Square, where he was sitting with a friend on January 20.

During a trial at Coventry Crown Court, the jury heard how Ali and his friend had bought a hot chocolate before heading to the square.

They were approached by the unknown boys, then aged 15, who demanded to know where they were from and if they were responsible for an earlier attack on one of their friends, which they weren’t.

One of the boys then pulled out a large knife and stabbed Ali in the chest before fleeing. He was pronounced dead at the QE Hospital at around 6.40pm.

The jury found one boy, who carried out the attack, guilty of murder and possessing a knife, and the other, guilty of manslaughter and possessing a knife.

The first boy was sentenced to a minimum term of 13 years. The second boy was sentenced to five years detained in a secure unit.

The boys were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court today (1 November).

Judge Mr Justice Garnham said 17-year-old Ali's murder was "yet another illustration of the appalling consequences of carrying knives in public places".

He said: "It is perfectly clear to me (Ali) was a much-loved son and brother and his family have been left utterly devastated by his death."

Neither of the youths, who cannot be identified for legal reasons due to their age, showed any emotion as they were sentenced.

The second youth, also aged 15, was told by Mr Justice Garnham he must serve five years' detention in secure accommodation.

A trial at Coventry Crown Court earlier this year heard Ali and his friend were "simply sat down chatting and using their phones" with hot chocolates when they were approached by the two youths "as if from nowhere".

The youths had followed them from Grand Central Shopping Centre and through New Street before confronting Ali and his friend at Victoria Square and did not introduce themselves, instead asking Ali and his friend where they came from and if they knew who had "jumped a mate" of theirs a week before.

After a conversation lasting around four minutes, in which the killer claimed Ali and his friend told them to "f*** off" and "piss off", Ali allegedly said: "Bro, I don't know what you're talking about, you're pissing me off", which prompted one of the youths to pull out a large knife and stab him in the chest before they both fled.

In his evidence, the youth, who had the knife in his trousers before stabbing Ali and was wearing a Covid-style face mask, a hat and gloves, told the court he only wanted to "scare" Ali and his friend, and that he did not intend to seriously harm or kill anyone.

He said he carried a knife when he went to busy places for protection as he had been attacked several times before and that he felt "regretful and upset" when he learned he had killed Ali.

The other youth, who did not give evidence during the trial but spoke to police in interview after his arrest, said he had been "shocked and crying" after the attack, claiming he did not know his friend had a knife on him until he produced it.

He also said he had never seen Ali or his friend before and only went along with the killer in case he "got battered".

Michael Ivers KC, representing the youth who carried out the fatal knife attack, said the defendant is remorseful and prays for Ali and his family regularly.

He said: "He isn't a man who is in any sense proud of what happened. He truly, truly regrets what happened.

"If he could turn the clock back, not for his own sake but because of the impact it has had on others, he would."

Charlie Sherrard KC, acting for the other youth, said his client has "always been remorseful" for what happened.

Sentencing the pair, who sat in the dock wearing white untucked shirts and dark trousers surrounded by four dock officers, Mr Justice Garnham said the first youth had pulled out a knife "for no obvious reason".

He said: "You suggested in evidence that the words of Ali caused you to fear for your safety. The jury did not accept that and neither do I.

"They did no more than was reasonable in trying to persuade you to go away. There was no justification for pulling out a knife on an unarmed young man who posed no risk to you."

Addressing the second youth, he said: "You knew (your friend) was carrying a knife, you knew he intended to use it and you encouraged him to use it.

"I accept that you did not envisage he would use it to kill Ali."

Family members of both youths sobbed in the public gallery as the pair were sentenced.

In a statement today, Muhammad’s family said: “We as a family still can’t even 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 life destroying but the fact that someone has so brutally taken his life in such a horrific way will always haunt us. It’s so difficult to express how his death has affected our family’s lives.

"His teachers told us how clever he was and the kindness he showed in helping others.

The students told us how friendly and chatty he was to be around and they told us how they will miss him. He dream't of becoming an engineer and his passion was to work hard to achieve his goal. This dream will no longer come true, not for wanting to work hard but at the hands of another."

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, who led the investigation, said: “Sadly this is another case that of young men carrying a knife, and being willing to use it with catastrophic consequences.

“Muhammad had simply been enjoying a day out with a friend. There’s no evidence at all that he knew either of the boys who went on to kill him, and no evidence he was involved in any earlier attack.

“This appalling violence which causes misery on families has to stop. We are relentless in our work to tackle knife crime, arresting those who do carry blades, and helping to educate those who could be drawn into that lifestyle.

“But we need help. We need help from parents, guardians, teachers – anyone who cares for young people. I’d urge them to share Muhammad’s story with the young people in their lives and to really consider the devastating consequences it has had for everyone involved.”

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