November 3rd 2024.
As Muhammad Hassam Ali and his friend walked through Birmingham New Street Station, they had no idea that two teenagers were following them with their hoods pulled up. The boys had met up at the Little Dessert shop in the Bullring shopping centre and were now making their way to Victoria Square. On the CCTV footage, they can be seen sitting next to a fountain known as the "Floozie in the Jacuzzi". It was there that the two 15-year-olds approached them.
One of the boys, who was wearing a face mask, hat, and gloves, suddenly pulled out a knife from his trousers and stabbed Muhammad in the chest before fleeing the scene. The attack came after a four-minute conversation where the boys accused Muhammad of being involved in a previous assault on their friend. Muhammad denied any involvement, but the boys persisted, causing him to become agitated and tell them to stop.
Muhammad's family remembers him as an aspiring engineer, and his tragic death will always haunt them. The boy who carried out the attack claimed that he only wanted to scare Muhammad and his friend and never meant to harm or kill anyone. He said he carried a knife for protection after being attacked multiple times before. However, a jury found him guilty of murder and possessing a knife.
The 15-year-old was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years. His friend, also 15, was found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a knife, and was sentenced to five years in a secure detention center. The killer expressed regret and sadness upon learning that he had taken someone's life.
During the sentencing, Judge Mr. Justice Garnham emphasized the devastating consequences of carrying knives in public places. He also acknowledged that Muhammad was a beloved son and brother, and his family was left shattered by his death. Turning his attention to the killer, the judge stated that the justification for pulling out a knife on an unarmed young man who posed no threat was unacceptable.
Addressing the second youth, the judge acknowledged that he knew his friend had a knife and encouraged him to use it, but may not have intended for it to result in Muhammad's death. A statement from Muhammad's family was read by the prosecutor, describing him as a promising engineer. They expressed the pain and devastation of losing a child, especially in such a brutal and senseless manner.
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