Teenager convicted of manslaughter of 14-year-old in Birmingham
Dea-John Reid died after being stabbed in May last year
Last updated 30th Mar 2022
A 15-year-old has been convicted of manslaughter following the death of Dea-John Reid in the Kingstanding area of Birmingham in May last year.
It took jurors three days before they acquitted four other defendants of murdering 14-year-old.
The cleared defendants were George Khan, 39, Michael Shields, 36, and two youths aged 15 and 16 who cannot be named due to their age.
Jurors saw CCTV of the killing and were told that Dea-John was attacked in "revenge" following an altercation which happened earlier in a park.
Jurors also acquitted 36-year-old Hollie Davies, of Waldon Walk Birmingham, of assisting an offender by attempting to frustrate the inquiry of a killing.
Mr Shields, of Alvis Walk, Castle Bromwich, and Mr Khan, of Newstead Road, Birmingham, and the three teenagers all denied murder.
The 15-year-old who has been convicted of manslaughter will not be named due to a court order and will remain in custody pending pre-sentence reports.
Kate Seal, of the CPS, said: "I cannot begin to imagine the crippling sense of loss felt by Dea-John's family and friends.
"The verdict of manslaughter will not undo the devastation felt by so many at the senseless loss of a young life. Such unnecessary violence has no place in our society and the death of Dea-John Reid should have never happened.
"The irrational use of violence that is now prevalent on our streets and in our communities must cease if we are to prevent further tragedies among our youth. While no verdict can return Dea-John to his family, my thoughts remain with them."