Two boys believed to be UK’s youngest knife murderers detained for minimum of eight years and six months
Two boys believed to be the UK’s youngest knife murderers have both been detained for a minimum term of eight years and six months.
The pair were both aged 12 when they killed 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai in a machete attack in a Wolverhampton park on 13 November last year.
They are thought to be the youngest children to be convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, who were both aged 11 when they were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger.
The judge, Mrs Justice Tipples, previously rejected a media application to lift the reporting restrictions which prevent Mr Seesahai’s murderers from being identified because of their age.
The victim’s parents, who are from the small Caribbean island of Anguilla, told Sky News they are still in a “lot of pain” and wonder whether their son was calling for “mummy or daddy” for help when he was attacked.
The judge began her sentencing by acknowledging the jail terms being handed down would be no comfort to the victim’s family.
She told the boys: “When you killed Shawn he was 19, starting out in his adult life with everything to live for.
“His parents have lost their son. His sister has lost her brother.
“What you did is horrific and shocking. You did not know Shawn, he was a stranger to you. You both killed Shawn in an attack that lasted less than a minute when he asked you to move (from a bench).
“I am sure you intended to kill him.”
Shawn Seesahai. Pic: West Midlands Police
The judge added that she could not be sure which of the boys had inflicted a 23cm-deep wound which almost passed all the way through Mr Seesahai’s body.
The teenager had travelled to the UK for cataract surgery and was due to start an engineering course in Birmingham the day after he was attacked.
One of the killers posed for a picture wearing a mask with his machete, which had a 42.5cm black blade, tucked into the top of his trousers hours before the murder.
Nottingham Crown Court was told Mr Seesahai, who was a stranger to the boys, was walking through Stowlawn playing fields with a friend when he was shoulder-barged by one of the 12-year-olds.
A machete was found under the bed of one of the boys. Pic: West Midlands Police
Mr Seesahai was then punched, kicked, stamped on and chopped at with the weapon, suffering wounds to his back, legs and skull, with the more than 20cm deep fatal blow puncturing his heart.
One boy cleaned his machete with bleach and hid it under his bed following the murder.
He wrote in social media messages “it is what it is” and “idrc” (I don’t really care).
Both blamed each other for inflicting the fatal blow but prosecutors said they “engaged in a joint attack upon a man who had done nothing wrong, a man with no weapon, who was utterly defenceless on the ground”.
Police provided an image of one of the convicted boys wearing a machete across his chest. Pic: West Midlands Police/PA
The boys – who were 12 when they were convicted and are now aged 13 – are believed to be the youngest children to be found guilty of a knife murder in the UK.
One of the boys admitted possession of the knife prior to the trial, while the other was found guilty of the charge.
Rachel Brand KC, defending the boy who admitted buying and owning the machete, said he had been “groomed” and exploited by older youths and young men in the wider community and “wishes he hadn’t taken the machete out with him”.
“He wishes they hadn’t gone to the park. He wishes that this hadn’t happened,” she said.
Paul Lewis KC, defending the other boy, said he had never been involved in criminality before, adding: “This was a one-off incident that was not premeditated – over in seconds – with admittedly tragic results.”
Mr Seesahai was ‘utterly defenceless’ when he was attacked, the trial heard. Pic: West Midlands Police/PA
‘I felt shocked they’re so young’
Mr Seesahai’s parents said they were struck by how young their son’s killers looked when they attended the trial.
“I felt shocked they’re so young, they’re so small and they did something like that,” his mother Manashwary Seesahai told Sky News.
“From the time I see them, I get angry because of what they did to my son.”
The parents had planned to move to the UK to be with their son and send his younger sister Shana, 15, to school, but his murder “changed everything”.
Mr Seesahai’s family scattered his ashes on his favourite beach
“Now I’m too afraid to take my daughter,” Mrs Seesahai said, speaking to Sky News from her son’s favourite beach, Crocus Bay, where they scattered his ashes.
“It just hurt me so bad. In time to come he would’ve married, had kids, we would’ve had grandchildren and enjoy our grandkids and nothing like that anymore.”
Mr Seesahai’s parents urged children to “think about what they’re doing” and not to carry a weapon, but wanted to see his killers jailed for 30 years.
“You have to have a proper sentencing for knife crime. Murder is murder,” his father Suresh Seesahai said.
“They didn’t kill my son the way that someone should be killed. They murdered him, they chop him, they chop his leg, they chop his shoulder, they beat him… they do a monstrous job to him.”
A forensic blue tent where Shawn Seesahai was killed in November last year. Pic: Stephanie Wareham/PA
West Midlands Police Chief Superintendent Kim Madill said outside court after sentencing: “Shawn was only 19 when his life was taken at the hands of two boys, then aged just 12, who had armed themselves with a machete.
“That reality has had a huge impact on us all, it is both shocking and saddening. The impact of knife crime is devastating no matter where you live in the country, this is an issue that affects us all.
“Much work has been done and we have had successes in some areas, however, this is clearly not enough.
“We are listening to families affected by knife crime and acting on their feedback to see what more we can do with partners to stop the devastation caused by knife crime.”
Dozens of people have gathered at a Sikh temple to attend an emergency meeting after police in the West Midlands said they are investigating the rape of a woman as a “racially motivated attack”.
The victim, reported to be a British-born Sikh aged in her 20s, told officers a racist remark was made to her during the attack in Oldbury, which was reported to police just before 8.30am on Tuesday.
The Sikh Federation (UK) said the perpetrators allegedly told the woman during the attack: “You don’t belong in this country, get out.”
Jas Singh, principal advisor to the Sikh Federation (UK), was among the group of faith and community leaders responsible for holding the meeting at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara temple in Smethwick, a few miles from Oldbury, following concerns within the community.
“I think if you look at it in the context of the climate, it makes it even more worrying because there is a trend of hatred… the targeting of migrants,” he said.
“Ultimately, what that means is the targeting of people’s skin colour, and as Sikhs we have the most distinct, unique identity,” he added.
“We bear the brunt of all prejudice and ignorance, and hate.”
Principal advisor to the Sikh Federation (UK) Jas Singh
Similar sentiments were raised at the meeting, with many horrified by the reports of the sexual assault as well as concerns about their own safety.
“People are trying to divide us,” said a woman in her 30s, who did not want to be named but said, as a Sikh woman, she wanted to be present to have her voice heard.
She was not only referencing the sexual assault but also what she believes has been an increase in overt discrimination.
“Let’s call it what it is, this is racism,” she told the meeting, as she broke down in tears.
Reverend Nick Ross, from Smethwick’s Holy Trinity Church, was also in attendance at the emergency meeting.
He commented on “offensive” graffiti that had been left on the side of the wall of the Sikh temple, while saying his Anglican church had also been defaced.
“We cannot just ignore it, it will go on and it will build, and there will be incidents like this,” he said, referencing racial tensions across the country.
Read more from Sky News:
Migrant hotel critics meet asylum seekers
Motel manager beheaded in washing machine row
Faith and community leaders organised the meeting at the Sikh temple
Police are still trying to identify the perpetrators of the attack and want to speak to anyone who may have seen two white men in the area.
The first is described as having a shaved head and a heavy build, and was wearing a dark sweatshirt with gloves on, and the second was reportedly wearing a grey top with a silver zip.
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill, of Sandwell Police, said: “We are working really hard to identify those responsible, with CCTV, forensic and other inquiries well under way.
“We fully understand the anger and worry that this has caused, and I am speaking to people in the community today to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to identify and arrest those responsible.
“Incidents like this are incredibly rare, but people can expect to see extra patrols in the area.”
The number of roadworks in Britain has more than doubled in the past two years – and frustrated drivers are more likely than ever to get stuck behind temporary traffic lights.
Exclusive data obtained by Sky News reveals there were 425,524 miles of roadworks across the UK last year. That’s enough to stretch around the world a whopping 17 times.
It marks a 110% increase compared to 2023, when there were 203,000 miles of lane closures.
Part of the reason for the surge is the 2019 pledge by then prime minister Boris Johnson to roll out full fibre broadband to every corner of the nation as part of his “levelling up” agenda.
A promise made by Boris Johnson has been partially blamed for the rise in roadworks. File pic: Reuters
Causeway Technologies infrastructure director Nick Smee told Sky News: “It’s absolutely true that the rollout of super-fast fibre has caused a huge spike because we all want those facilities.
“The problem is you can’t do it without digging up the roads.”
‘The rollout of super-fast fibre has caused a huge spike,’ Nick Smee says
The original deadline for Johnson’s ‘Project Gigabit’ was this year, but this has been delayed to 2032, meaning drivers could face at least another six years of disruptions.
Meanwhile, the government is hoping another 100,000 public electric vehicle charging points will be installed by the end of the decade, which will inevitably lead to more asphalt being ripped up for the cables to be laid.
Roadworks are now a regular occurrence in large parts of the country, with emergency repairs often needed for leaking Victorian water pipes and other utilities.
In some cases, the same streets are repeatedly dug up in quick succession, leading to misery for motorists and an increased risk of potholes.
Drivers in London trundled through 490,893 roadworks in 2024, the highest number nationwide, averaging more than 1,300 sites across the capital every day.
Kent recorded 134,430 projects, and Surrey had 132,291. Essex and Hampshire complete the list of the top five roadwork hotspots.
Heavy machinery carrying out roadworks in London
In January 2024, the then Conservative government said it would crack down on disruptive street works.
The Labour government stood by the pledge and said it would start charging firms that unnecessarily leave roads closed over weekends, which hadn’t previously been possible.
Read more from Sky News:
Migrant hotel critics meet asylum seekers
Calls for PM to publish security warnings about Mandelson
Officials also planned to double fines for delayed roadworks by this summer. However, the Department for Transport has now told Sky News that won’t happen until next year at the earliest “due to other high priority legislative work pushing it back”.
Clive Bairsto, chief executive of the trade association Street Works UK, said: “If you overfine people, the industry will be forced to use firms of less integrity and you’ll end up with the poor performers being used to do jobs rather than the good performers, which is what we want to encourage.”
The leader of a self-styled African tribe living in a Scottish woodland has vowed his group will stay put despite a court order stating the encampment should be removed.
A sheriff on Friday issued a warrant for the removal of the so-called Kingdom of Kubala, which has been camped near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders for the past few weeks.
The three members of the self-proclaimed kingdom have said they’re reclaiming land that was stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago.
Kofi Offeh, 36, is the leader of the group and the self-proclaimed King Atehene. The other two members are his wife Jean Gasho, 43, who calls herself Queen Nandi, and “handmaiden” Kaura Taylor, who calls herself Asnat.
The group says it is reclaming stolen land. Pic: PA
After the warrant was issued on Friday, they showed no inclination to leave.
Speaking at the campsite, Mr Offeh said: “The creator of the heavens and the Earth is the one with us.
“We are not afraid of whatever the court – the so-called court – has granted.”
Asked if they plan to move, he replied: “If the creator of the heavens and the Earth wants us to move from this land, he shall find us a place to go.”
Part of a court course summons letter at the campsite. Pic: PA
Issuing the order at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday morning, Sheriff Peter Paterson said it would come into effect immediately.
None of the members of the so-called kingdom were in court and they did not have legal representation.
The civil action was brought after the trio ignored a previous eviction notice, which said they had to leave by 5pm on Monday.
Read more:
Motel manager beheaded in washing machine row
Man charged after fire at MP’s office
Kaura Taylor (left) calls herself Asnat and Jean Gasho goes by Queen Nandi. Pic: PA
Earlier, Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton said the landowner had been left with “no option” but to take legal action.
He said: “The council will be supporting the landowner through the next steps and all the additional safety measures will remain in place until this situation is resolved.
“Whilst this next stage of the eviction process plays out, please can I remind people not to engage with this group.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment11 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024