Two boys found NOT GUILTY over fatal stabbing

Yousef Makki died after a stab wound to the heart in Hale Barns in March

Published 12th Jul 2019

Two boys have been cleared of all charges after a teenager was stabbed to death in Hale Barns.

Manchester Grammar School pupil Yousef Makki died after a stab wound to the heart in March.

As the jury returned their verdicts at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, Yousef's father was heard shouting: "Where's the justice for my son?"

Two boys, both aged 17 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been on trial for almost a month facing sever charges in connection with his death.

Boy One was found not guilty of murdering Yousef and not guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter.

He was cleared of an additional charge of conspiracy to rob with his co-defendant on the same date.

The first boy earlier pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and possessing a flick knife.

Speaking exclusively to Hits Radio, his sister Jade Ryan, described how difficult life has been without him:

"Once the trial is over, we've been saying, 'What do you do then'? Life continues without Yousef and we don't even know how to continue without someone that you saw every day and that you saw every day throughout your life?

"My 2-year-old was very, very close to him and every day he'd be stuck to him. He used to call him Yo-Yo and even now he asks where he is.

"We have to say he's in the sky and he's a star but even now he asks 'Where's Yo-Yo?'

"My first memory of him was that he was reading the Guardian when he was two or three. He was always reading, always studying. He wanted to be a heart surgeon, which is why it's so ironic that he died with a stab wound to the heart.

"He would have achieved that dream. 100%. He definitely would have."

The two boys will appear in court again on 25th July to be sentenced for charges they previously pled guilty to.

Both boys admitted possession of knifes and Boy One also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.