Two teenagers jailed for murder after death of Huddersfield boy
15-year-old Khayri Mclean was stabbed as he was making his way home from school
Last updated 18th May 2023
The two teenagers guilty of murdering Khayri Mclean outside North Huddersfield Trust High school have been given life sentences.
15-year-old Khayri was stabbed as he was making his way home on September 21 2022.
15-year-old Jakele Pusey, who admitted killing Khayri's been told he'll serve at least 16 years in prison.
17-year-old Jovani Harriott- who denied murder before he was found guilty- has been given a minimum term of 18 years.
During their trial, the court heard how the boys "lay in wait" for Khayri, carrying knives and wearing balaclavas.
In a statement, read to the court, Khayri's mother said: "He was a loving and caring person and loved playing rugby league and was really good at it.
He was a son, brother and friend and had a girlfriend so it was lovely to see how happy he was. He always said he wanted to be an engineer.
She said on September 21 her life "changed forever" when "two cowards waited to attack Khayri."
Kharyi's mum said: "He had no chance. He had no opportunity to defend himself and the fear he went through when he was attacked and bled to death will never leave me.
"This violence has to stop and carrying weapons has to stop.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the children and teachers who waited with Khayri and the paramedics and doctors who tried in vain to save his life."
Family and friends of Khayri sat in the jury box for the sentencing hearing on Thursday wearing matching T-shirts featuring his picture.
Stabbed as he left school
The incident in September last year, which was captured on CCTV, was said to have been provoked by Khayri sharing a video on social media after the 17-year-old defendant's mother had a window broken at her house.
The judge, Mrs Justice Farbey, heard how the 15-year-old admitted to probation officers that he had a history of gang-related criminality and was shot by masked men when he was 12 in a "gang incident".
She was told he was involved in a Huddersfield gang called F-block or Fartown Boys, whose exploits are celebrated by the drill rap artist, Booter Bee.
The judge was also told the boy - who admitted murdering Khayri - said he started dealing class B drugs when he was about 13 years old, class A drugs from the age of 14, and regularly carried a knife.
Detective Superintendent Marc Bowes who led the investigation, said: “If ever a case has highlighted the dreadful consequences of knife crime and the culture of carrying such weapons, the appalling attack on Khayri outside his school was a crime that demonstrated the tragedy and rightly shocked people across the country.
"The murder of Khayri was a planned, organised and targeted attack. The severity of the injuries they inflicted left Khayri with no chance of survival and left those closest to him without a much-loved son and friend and we can see to this day the impact his loss has had and continues to have on them.
“The lengthy sentences given to these males will not bring Khayri back to those who have lost him but will at least keep two very dangerous males off our streets for many years to come. “