'Don't make the same mistake I did': Convicted killer's message to Birmingham teenagers
Teenagers in Birmingham are being warned about the dangers of carrying a knife, by a man serving a life sentence for murder.
Last updated 16th Sep 2019
Pupils in Birmingham will get the opportunity to hear from Sadam Essakhil, as part of a video project by West Midlands Police.
Essakhil was 15 when he and a friend murdered a 24-year-old man, Lukasz Furmanek, and seriously injured another with a knife taken from his kitchen drawer in Handsworth, Birmingham, in May 2015.
He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 19 years in prison.
Essakhil, now 20, says in the clip:
"It's not nice, having to live with the feeling that I've taken a life.
"Especially when you're in your cell, thinking about things, they come to haunt you.''
After filming, Essakhil said:
"The reason I carried a knife that evening was for my own protection. There was no intention on that day to go out and hurt anyone.
"The victim wasn't known to me and I sincerely regret what I did on that evening and always think about the victim and his family, as they will never get to see him again."
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Munro, from the force's homicide team, said:
"We see the tragic effects of knife crime far too often, the devastation that it causes so many people is truly heartbreaking.
"While officers work hard with young people, we understand some do not want to listen to what we have to say.
"Sadam's message is powerful and I hope will provide some emotive thoughts and conversations amongst young people.
"We're committed to reducing violent crime across our region and we've worked closely with the Prison Service, who we're extremely grateful to for allowing us to interview Sadam and share his experiences in the hope that we can change behaviours and stop people carrying weapons."
Officers around the region will be carrying out activities aimed at tackling the scourge of knives as part of the Operation Sceptre week of action which starts today (Monday).
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