Four teenagers sentenced to more than 37 years in prison for the manslaughter of Ramarni Crosby

Four teenagers have been sentenced to more than 37 years in prison after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Ramarni Crosby.

The 16-year-old died on Stratton Road in Gloucester back in December 2021 after being repeatedly stabbed in his back and upper body.

After a trial at Bristol Crown Court, all eight defendants were cleared of his murder, with three being found guilty of Ramarni Crosby's manslaughter.

This included two 16 year olds, and 19 year-old Levi Cameron, of Stanway Road.

Callum Charles-Quebella, 18, from Midland Road had already pleaded guilty to Ramarni Crosby' manslaughter.

A ninth defendant, 20-year-old Keishaleigh Margrett-Whitter, from Lyncroft Road, Tyseley in Birmingham, faced two counts of assisting an offender, which she denied.

The jury found her not guilty on both counts.

"Plagued by the thought of him dying alone " - Ramarni's Grandmother, Viv Clifford

Reading her victim impact statement in tears and visibly shaking, Ramarni's grandmother Viv Clifford spoke of how she still has "nightmares" where she wakes up "screaming" and left "plagued by the thought of him dying alone."

She said: "The impact on the lives of myself and family is colossal. We know our lives will never be the same again.

"Losing Marni has made me feel like I didn't protect him or I let him down, even though the rational part of my brain knows that the people responsible are the defendants. I continue to blame myself that, if I had done something different, he would still be here.

"I am haunted by the way that he died and my mind is plagued by the thought of him dying alone; I have nightmares about it and I wake up in the night screaming.

"No sentence will ever be enough for what we have lost. The outcome we all wish for is Ramarni to be back here where he belongs, but I know that is not possible.

"The loss of Marni is beyond words, something we will carry with us forever; a silent anchor that will prevent us from ever being happy again."

"Why did you do it?" - Judge Mrs Justice Cutts during sentencing

When sentencing the four teenagers, Judge Mrs Justice Cutts questioned why they committed this "chilling" act, saying Ramarni Crosby was "Moving away from you, posing no threat, no need for violence, why did you do it?"

She added, "the evidence of young men and children carrying knives in Gloucester is chilling," and their "reasons for seeking this confrontation was petty beyond belief".

What happened to Ramarni Crosby?

On 12 December 2021, Ramarni Crosby travelled to Stratton Road with four friends to settle a feud with the eight defendants.

A week earlier, there had been a fight between one of Ramarni's friends and one of the accused.

During the trial, Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingham told the jury that this fight "hadn't settled anything, there were still grievances bubbling away between them and more violence was very much on the cards".

On the day of Ramarni's death, the two involved in the original fight got back in contact and arranged to meet in Gloucester.

CCTV images shows the build-up and aftermath of the incident.

CCTV showing Ramarni Crosby and his four friends approaching the eight defendants

The defendants, who are members of a Gloucester gang known as "GL1", gathered in the city centre before meeting Ramarni and his friends.

Ramarni and his four mates were then seen approaching Stratton Road, for what they expected to be a fist fight against five others. Instead, they were outnumbered by a group of eight, wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons.

CCTV didn't capture the attack itself, but does show Ramarni and his friends attempting to run away - whilst the defendants gave case.

After continuing to run away from the incident, Ramarni collapsed with stab wounds to his back and an injury to his skull caused by a blow from a sharp object.

An ambulance was called, but unfortunately the teenager has been fatally injured and died at the scene.

The defendants were also caught dropping weapons down local drains. Investigators were able to use the CCTV footage, along with maps, to identify the location of the drains and recover the knives.

This included a meat cleaver, which police found near to the scene of the killing:

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