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| Two boys jailed for life for murdering teenager with 'Rambo-style knife' | Two boys jailed for life for murdering teenager with 'Rambo-style knife' |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Two 15-year-old gang members who murdered an innocent teenager with a “Rambo-style knife” have been given life sentences. | Two 15-year-old gang members who murdered an innocent teenager with a “Rambo-style knife” have been given life sentences. |
| The boys were both aged 14 when they took a minicab to the Harrow area of west London, seeking retribution against rival gang members for an attack on one of their own. | The boys were both aged 14 when they took a minicab to the Harrow area of west London, seeking retribution against rival gang members for an attack on one of their own. |
| Hussein Ahmed, 19, a university student described as “peaceful”, suffered massive blood loss and died in hospital three days after he was stabbed once in the back outside South Harrow tube station on 18 November 2016. | Hussein Ahmed, 19, a university student described as “peaceful”, suffered massive blood loss and died in hospital three days after he was stabbed once in the back outside South Harrow tube station on 18 November 2016. |
| A 17-year-old was stabbed in the arm and stomach, while another youth, also aged 17, narrowly avoided injury as an attacker slashed the sleeve of his jacket. | A 17-year-old was stabbed in the arm and stomach, while another youth, also aged 17, narrowly avoided injury as an attacker slashed the sleeve of his jacket. |
| After the eight-minute rampage, which took place during rush hour, the attackers returned to the waiting minicab, telling the unwitting driver: “Drive, boss.” | After the eight-minute rampage, which took place during rush hour, the attackers returned to the waiting minicab, telling the unwitting driver: “Drive, boss.” |
| The driver described the teenagers as “happy” as they left the scene, “shouting and gesturing” at their dying victim. | The driver described the teenagers as “happy” as they left the scene, “shouting and gesturing” at their dying victim. |
| Both 15-year-olds cried in the dock at the Old Bailey last month as they were convicted of murder, as well as the wounding and attempted wounding of the two 17-year-olds. | Both 15-year-olds cried in the dock at the Old Bailey last month as they were convicted of murder, as well as the wounding and attempted wounding of the two 17-year-olds. |
| “The way you behaved that night showed a total disregard for human life,” the judge, Anthony Leonard QC, told them as he sentenced them to detention for life. | “The way you behaved that night showed a total disregard for human life,” the judge, Anthony Leonard QC, told them as he sentenced them to detention for life. |
| The boy found to have wielded the weapon was told he must serve at least 16 years, while the other must serve at least 14 years before he is considered for parole. | The boy found to have wielded the weapon was told he must serve at least 16 years, while the other must serve at least 14 years before he is considered for parole. |
| The judge said the use of disposable surgical gloves by those carrying the knives was “chilling evidence” of the planning involved in the attack. | The judge said the use of disposable surgical gloves by those carrying the knives was “chilling evidence” of the planning involved in the attack. |
| “You have been convicted of murder, arising from a revenge attack on what you believed to be members of a rival gang,” the judge told the boys. “The use of knives in the hands of young people who injure and kill without regard for the sanctity of human life is all too prevalent in London.” | “You have been convicted of murder, arising from a revenge attack on what you believed to be members of a rival gang,” the judge told the boys. “The use of knives in the hands of young people who injure and kill without regard for the sanctity of human life is all too prevalent in London.” |
| A 16-year-old was cleared of involvement, while a fourth suspect was said to have fled abroad. None of the youths can be named because of their age. | A 16-year-old was cleared of involvement, while a fourth suspect was said to have fled abroad. None of the youths can be named because of their age. |
| The court heard both 15-year-olds had previous convictions, one for kicking a young girl in the back and the other for following another schoolboy on to a bus and stealing his mobile phone. | The court heard both 15-year-olds had previous convictions, one for kicking a young girl in the back and the other for following another schoolboy on to a bus and stealing his mobile phone. |
| They were known members of the Grahame Park estate gang, acting in retribution for an attack carried out two days before. | They were known members of the Grahame Park estate gang, acting in retribution for an attack carried out two days before. |
| One had visited the victim in hospital after the attack and sent him a letter, which said: “I had to do it. We did it. It wasn’t your fault.” | One had visited the victim in hospital after the attack and sent him a letter, which said: “I had to do it. We did it. It wasn’t your fault.” |
| On 18 November last year, the boys armed themselves with at least two knives, before taking a minicab from their home turf in Hendon, north-west London, with two other teenagers. | On 18 November last year, the boys armed themselves with at least two knives, before taking a minicab from their home turf in Hendon, north-west London, with two other teenagers. |
| The court heard they targeted youths at random, killing one in what the prosecutor, Anthony Orchard QC, described as a “senseless” and “unprovoked” murder. | The court heard they targeted youths at random, killing one in what the prosecutor, Anthony Orchard QC, described as a “senseless” and “unprovoked” murder. |
| “It is clear that these four youths set out in the taxi that Friday afternoon from Hendon to seek out a youth or youths in the Harrow area with the sole purpose of attacking and stabbing them,” Orchard said during the trial. | “It is clear that these four youths set out in the taxi that Friday afternoon from Hendon to seek out a youth or youths in the Harrow area with the sole purpose of attacking and stabbing them,” Orchard said during the trial. |
| Ahmed’s father, Catteyeh Ahmed, described seeing his son “fighting for his life” in hospital. He said: “We never expected something like this could happen. Hussein was only 19 years old – a young age to have your life taken from you. | Ahmed’s father, Catteyeh Ahmed, described seeing his son “fighting for his life” in hospital. He said: “We never expected something like this could happen. Hussein was only 19 years old – a young age to have your life taken from you. |
| “We hope no family has to go through what we went though. Nothing we can do or say will bring him back. We hope justice will be served for this mindless, violent action.” | “We hope no family has to go through what we went though. Nothing we can do or say will bring him back. We hope justice will be served for this mindless, violent action.” |
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