Shawn Seesahai: Top detective and team ‘shocked’ at age of killers
The detective who led the hunt for the killers of Shawn Seesahai said his experienced team were left in shock when two 12-year-old boys were identified as suspects.
Warning: This story contains details readers may find distressing
Mr Seesahai, 19, died after the attack on 13 November last year.
He was struck on his legs and skull and the fatal wound to his back was more than 20cm deep and “almost came out” of his chest after going “through his heart”.
The month-long trial heard the children were arrested 10 minutes apart at their respective homes, 24 hours after the incident.
Jurors at Nottingham Crown Court heard how neither boy tried to get help, opting not to call 999 anonymously, as they left their victim for dead near Wolverhampton‘s Stowlawn Primary School.
On Monday, jurors unanimously convicted the pair, who are believed to be youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 11, were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger.
The pair were 10 when they killed two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, having snatched him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside.
They were given life sentences for the murder, but were released on licence with new identities in 2001.
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Shawn Seesahai. Pic provided by West Midlands Police via Becky Cotterill
The pair convicted of killing Mr Seesahai have not been named.
This is because children appearing in youth or crown courts in England and Wales, whether as a victim, witness or defendant – cannot be identified if they are under the age of 18, apart from in exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional circumstances refers to a pressing social need where the public interest outweighs the interest of the child – this is rare and usually only happens in high profile cases.
Speaking after the trial, Detective Inspector Damian Forrest, of West Midlands Police, said: “I have been a police officer for 20 years and this isn’t the first time I’ve been out to a young man who has lost his life in a really violent way.
“But to then find out that two 12-year-olds were responsible was shocking and made us all on the investigation team stop and pause and think about things.
“But I have got a really professional team with lots of experience, and we gathered our thoughts, adapted our policies and our processes appropriately, and carried on with the investigation from there.”
The two boys denied murdering Mr Seesahai but prosecutors said they were jointly responsible for the savage attack.
Asked about the nature of the killing, the senior officer added: “The attack was a brutal attack on a young man who was just over with his friends in Wolverhampton.”
Shawn Seesahai’s parents Manashwary and Suresh Seesahai. Pic: Sky News grab but BBC pool
Mr Seesahai’s parents said they and their daughter will never be able to get over the loss of their beloved son.
“I will remember him every day. When I get home I see his pictures, his clothes, his sneakers, I will always remember him.
“Even at work, I work for myself and he works for me on weekends, when I would pack up my stuff he always helped me.
“Whenever I put anything in my truck now, he will be there with me helping me do it.”
Mr Seesahai added: “It’s also very hard for his sister because they always spoke to each other. After he passed away we were on the porch, she started crying and said: ‘Mummy I have no brother, it’s just me, alone.'”
After finding out the age of the accused, he added: “This world is a different world, kids are dangerous now. If we don’t pay attention to them this will keep happening.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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