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| Azaan Kaleem death: Mother cannot forgive killers for laughing at trial | Azaan Kaleem death: Mother cannot forgive killers for laughing at trial |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The mother of a teenager who was stabbed to death said she cannot forgive his killers after they "laughed and joked" at their trial. | The mother of a teenager who was stabbed to death said she cannot forgive his killers after they "laughed and joked" at their trial. |
| Azaan Kaleem, 18, was with his girlfriend in Luton in March when a group of strangers "piled out of a car" and stabbed him. He died in hospital. | Azaan Kaleem, 18, was with his girlfriend in Luton in March when a group of strangers "piled out of a car" and stabbed him. He died in hospital. |
| Four men were convicted over his death on Thursday at the Old Bailey. | Four men were convicted over his death on Thursday at the Old Bailey. |
| Roseann Taylor, who switched off her son's life support, said: "They had no remorse or regard for what they did." | Roseann Taylor, who switched off her son's life support, said: "They had no remorse or regard for what they did." |
| Mr Kaleem, who was Ms Taylor's only child, was "viciously attacked" after a disagreement. | Mr Kaleem, who was Ms Taylor's only child, was "viciously attacked" after a disagreement. |
| Two men aged 18 and 19, who cannot be named, and Harrison Searle, 18, of Derwent Road, Luton, were convicted of murder. | Two men aged 18 and 19, who cannot be named, and Harrison Searle, 18, of Derwent Road, Luton, were convicted of murder. |
| Reece Bliss-McGrath, 20, of Exton Avenue, Luton, was found guilty of manslaughter. All four will be sentenced next month. | Reece Bliss-McGrath, 20, of Exton Avenue, Luton, was found guilty of manslaughter. All four will be sentenced next month. |
| Ms Taylor sat through their four-week trial, in which CCTV footage of the fatal attack was repeatedly played. | Ms Taylor sat through their four-week trial, in which CCTV footage of the fatal attack was repeatedly played. |
| "What I saw was like a pack of animals - rounding up, seeking something, finding it and stalking it - and that's what they did to my son. | "What I saw was like a pack of animals - rounding up, seeking something, finding it and stalking it - and that's what they did to my son. |
| "I had to watch the CCTV of son being murdered and all the while I was keeping my composure, the defendants laughed and joked and had fun. | "I had to watch the CCTV of son being murdered and all the while I was keeping my composure, the defendants laughed and joked and had fun. |
| "Azaan was just a person to them, he was just a name." | "Azaan was just a person to them, he was just a name." |
| She said she got a call about the attack in Hartsfield Road and had hoped her "accident-prone" son would be [sitting] on the kerb, moaning about his latest scrape. | |
| Instead, he was prone on the pavement, surrounded by paramedics. He had been attacked at 17:20, in full daylight. | Instead, he was prone on the pavement, surrounded by paramedics. He had been attacked at 17:20, in full daylight. |
| "I was blocked by a police officer," she said. | "I was blocked by a police officer," she said. |
| "That was soul-destroying - to know your child is lying on the floor and you know its serious and you can't get to them. " | "That was soul-destroying - to know your child is lying on the floor and you know its serious and you can't get to them. " |
| Asked about her last memory of her son, she said: "Switching his machine off. | Asked about her last memory of her son, she said: "Switching his machine off. |
| "It was horrific. To stand behind your child and stroke their hair, and kiss their forehead and wait while a policeman has to watch for his heart to stop beating. | "It was horrific. To stand behind your child and stroke their hair, and kiss their forehead and wait while a policeman has to watch for his heart to stop beating. |
| "They [the killers] even stole that moment, because it wasn't private. | "They [the killers] even stole that moment, because it wasn't private. |
| "I wanted Azaan's organs to be given away because he was a healthy 18-year-old, and I wanted to give the gift of life to someone else. | "I wanted Azaan's organs to be given away because he was a healthy 18-year-old, and I wanted to give the gift of life to someone else. |
| "But Azaan became evidence we weren't allowed to do that." | "But Azaan became evidence we weren't allowed to do that." |
| She added: "It's changed my life for ever. No-one will ever call me mum again. | She added: "It's changed my life for ever. No-one will ever call me mum again. |
| "I will get there one day, I will forgive them, but not yet." | "I will get there one day, I will forgive them, but not yet." |