Two boys aged 13 and 14 have been found guilty of stabbing a teenage boy to death.
Nathaniel Shani, 14, was knifed to death in an alleyway in Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, on Friday September 15 last year. The court heard during the trial his killers had been armed with a screwdriver and a knife when they met with unarmed Nathaniel on the day of his death.
The youngster, described by family as "a best friend to many", was stabbed in the neck during a fight which lasted just seconds, with the entire horrifying incident caught on CCTV. His killers, named only as Boy A and Boy B due to their ages, wept in court on Wednesday as the jury delivered their verdict.
Emotions were high in the public gallery during the verdict, MEN reports, while some jurors also appeared visibly emotional. During the course of the trial at Manchester Crown Court, it was heard how the boys had met for a pre-arranged fight to "settle differences" following a dispute over stolen cannabis.
Nathaniel was stabbed and lost consciousness, tragically dying of his injuries. The murder left the community reeling, with public memorials including a balloon release taking place. Following his death, Nathaniel’s loved ones paid tribute to him, describing him as a '"best friend to many" who "never failed to make people laugh".
On the day of the killing, cannabis had been stolen from a friend of Nathaniel’s by Boy B. “Nathaniel viewed this as a loss of face to him and his group,” Jason Pitter KC, prosecuting, said. “That included their reputation with those involved in drug dealing. As a result, he was determined to get those drugs back.”
The pair will be sentenced in June. Following Wednesday's verdict, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) issued a statement sayng Nathaniel's death was another 'needless waste of a young life' to knife crime.
Martin Hill, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS Complex Casework Unit, said: “This is a tragic case whereby another young person has needlessly lost their life as a result of knife crime. It was the prosecution case that both boys were acting together. Though just one of the boys inflicted the fatal knife wound, the other had by his actions encouraged him to deliberately inflict serious harm.
“Today, after considering all the evidence presented to them, including CCTV of the fight, the jury have found them both guilty of his murder. The CPS is committed to working with the police to tackle knife crime.
“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Nathaniel Shani and all those who have been affected by his untimely death.”