This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/06/boy-jailed-murder-quamari-serunkuma-barnes

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Boy, 15, jailed for 'pure evil' murder of Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes Boy, 15, jailed for 'pure evil' murder of Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes
(35 minutes later)
A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to at least 14 years in prison for stabbing a teenager to death outside his school gates in an act described as “pure evil”.A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to at least 14 years in prison for stabbing a teenager to death outside his school gates in an act described as “pure evil”.
The boy wore a mask and waited for Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes, 15, outside Capital City academy in Willesden, north-west London.The boy wore a mask and waited for Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes, 15, outside Capital City academy in Willesden, north-west London.
The attack came shortly before 3.30pm on 23 January, as children left the school, which specialises in sports and the arts, a court heard.The attack came shortly before 3.30pm on 23 January, as children left the school, which specialises in sports and the arts, a court heard.
When he saw “happy and hardworking” GCSE student Serunkuma-Barnes, the boy chased him armed with a large kitchen knife. Serunkuma-Barnes ran for his life, shouting for help and saying he was going to be stabbed, but the defendant caught up with him by the school gates and stabbed Serunkuma-Barnes three times. When he saw “happy and hardworking” GCSE student Quamari, the boy chased him armed with a large kitchen knife. Quamari ran for his life, shouting for help and saying he was going to be stabbed, but the defendant caught up with him by the school gates and stabbed Quamari three times.
The victim was taken to hospital where he told a nurse who had attacked him before he died from his injuries.The victim was taken to hospital where he told a nurse who had attacked him before he died from his injuries.
Despite wearing a mask, witnesses recognised the killer and he was arrested the next day. The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder after a trial at the Old Bailey.Despite wearing a mask, witnesses recognised the killer and he was arrested the next day. The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder after a trial at the Old Bailey.
The trial heard the motive for the attack was unknown. But since his conviction, the defendant has admitted for the first time he carried out the attack and he knew it was Serunkuma-Barnes. The trial heard the motive for the attack was unknown. But since his conviction, the defendant has admitted for the first time he carried out the attack and he knew it was Quamari.
Sally O’Neill QC, prosecuting, said: “It is not accepted that Quamari was anything to do with any sort of gang. Information from the school painted a picture of a happy, hardworking, well liked and sociable boy.” Sally O’Neill QC, prosecuting, said: “It is not accepted that Quamari was anything to do with any sort of gang. Information from the school painted a picture of a happy, hardworking, well-liked and sociable boy.”
Serunkuma-Barnes’s mother described the killer’s actions as “pure evil” in a statement read in court. Quamari’s mother described the killer’s actions as “pure evil” in a statement read in court.
Lillian Serunkuma wrote: “You never gave Quamari a second chance to defend himself. You took his life in a cold and malicious way.”Lillian Serunkuma wrote: “You never gave Quamari a second chance to defend himself. You took his life in a cold and malicious way.”
She said her son had a fun-loving spirit and his life was stolen for no reason. Quamari loved school and what the youth did was “indefensible”, she said.She said her son had a fun-loving spirit and his life was stolen for no reason. Quamari loved school and what the youth did was “indefensible”, she said.
The court heard the defendant had a string of convictions, including for punching a girl.The court heard the defendant had a string of convictions, including for punching a girl.
In a statement expressing remorse, he said: “I want to say that I’m sorry for what I did. I don’t know why I did it. I was scared and confused. I’m telling the truth for Quamari’s mum and dad. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean Quamari to get so hurt.In a statement expressing remorse, he said: “I want to say that I’m sorry for what I did. I don’t know why I did it. I was scared and confused. I’m telling the truth for Quamari’s mum and dad. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean Quamari to get so hurt.
“I’m not a murderer. I’m not a wasteman. I didn’t want him to die. I want to have a different life but I don’t know how. I’m trying.”“I’m not a murderer. I’m not a wasteman. I didn’t want him to die. I want to have a different life but I don’t know how. I’m trying.”
Judge John Bevan QC said it was “infinitely depressing” to sentence a young person for such a serious crime. The fact the defendant had finally admitted his guilt would be a comfort to Quamari’s parents, he said.Judge John Bevan QC said it was “infinitely depressing” to sentence a young person for such a serious crime. The fact the defendant had finally admitted his guilt would be a comfort to Quamari’s parents, he said.
“It is very unusual to admit a murder after conviction. It is a mature decision rather than taking your chances in the court of appeal,” Bevan said.“It is very unusual to admit a murder after conviction. It is a mature decision rather than taking your chances in the court of appeal,” Bevan said.
Sentencing the boy, he said: “This is a bad case of its kind because Quamari can have done nothing to merit an attack of this severity.Sentencing the boy, he said: “This is a bad case of its kind because Quamari can have done nothing to merit an attack of this severity.
“His death was a product of a total lack of self control combined with the cowardice of knifing an unarmed victim.” “His death was a product of a total lack of self-control combined with the cowardice of knifing an unarmed victim.”
Quamari’s father, Paul Barnes, had wept in court as the boy was sentenced. Outside court, he said he was “happy” with the sentence, although it would not bring his son back. He said he had been hoping for a longer term to “deter the kids”. Quamari’s father, Paul Barnes, wept in court as the boy was sentenced. Outside court, he said he was happy with the sentence, although it would not bring his son back. He said he had been hoping for a longer term to “deter the kids”.
On the defendant’s admission of guilt, Barnes said: “I think he was just grabbing at straws, trying to save his own skin. Last-ditch dot com - trying to save his own bacon.” On the defendant’s admission of guilt, Barnes said: “I think he was just grabbing at straws, trying to save his own skin. Last-ditch dot com – trying to save his own bacon.”