Two teenagers jailed for killing boy in Wolverhampton park

A 17-year-old has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years

Author: Amelia SalmonsPublished 28th Jan 2025
Last updated 28th Jan 2025

Two teenagers have been jailed for killing 17-year-old Harleigh Hepworth in a Wolverhampton park.

Harleigh, from Rugeley, thought he was visiting friends when he arrived in West Park, Wolverhampton.

He was then stabbed by one of the two teenagers.

A 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, will now face 17 years and 42 days in prison for Harleigh's murder.

Jovarn Esterine, who was 17 at the time, has been handed 6 years and 43 days in a youth detention institute for manslaughter and robbery.

Jovarn Esterine, one of Harleigh's killers

Harleigh was stabbed in the chest by the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He then tried to escape his killer, but was found with a single stab wound bleeding in the park.

A passer-by stopped and called emergency services but, sadly, Harleigh died at the scene.

The other defendant, Jovarn Esterine, who was 17 at the time, held a knife to Harleigh's friend's chest threatening to kill him unless he unlocked his phone.

Esterine, now 18, left the park, discarding one of the stolen phones in a nearby drain.

After a six-week trial, the 17-year-old was found guilty of murder and robbery. Jovarn Esterine was found not-guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter and robbery.

How have Hareligh's parents been?

Detective Inspector Ade George from West Midlands Police was the Senior Investigating Officer on the case.

He told us about how Harleigh's parents have been since the incident: "It has been devestating for them.

"They describe Harleigh as a loving, funny boy with his whole life ahead of him. He was two weeks past his seventeenth birthday and now his family will not get to see him grow up," he said.

What is the wider issue?

Detective Inspector Ade George said that the two defendants showed no remorse:

"They have never taken responsibility for their actions. When they were in custody, they answered no comment to all questions put to them," she said.

He said he is worried about how many children are getting involved with knives: "We see events like this up and down the country. It is quite clear, when people carry knives, that it ends in tragedy."

George said he hoped the sentence would act a deterrent for other children tempted to carry knives.

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