This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-49275491
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Yousef Makki trial: Defendant 'smirked at family in court' | Yousef Makki trial: Defendant 'smirked at family in court' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The mother of a stabbed teenager has said one of the boys on trial over her son's killing would "moonwalk" past her in court. | The mother of a stabbed teenager has said one of the boys on trial over her son's killing would "moonwalk" past her in court. |
| Yousef Makki, 17, was stabbed in the heart in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, on 2 March. | Yousef Makki, 17, was stabbed in the heart in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, on 2 March. |
| His mum Debbie said she had to share a corridor with two defendants during a trial at Manchester Crown Court. | His mum Debbie said she had to share a corridor with two defendants during a trial at Manchester Crown Court. |
| A boy, 17, admitted stabbing Yousef with a flick knife but was cleared of murder and manslaughter. | A boy, 17, admitted stabbing Yousef with a flick knife but was cleared of murder and manslaughter. |
| In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said the family had not raised concerns about using the court's public corridors and had not taken up the offer of using a "private victim's suite". | |
| Known in court as Boy A, the teenager pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and possessing a knife and will spend eight months in custody. | |
| Another 17-year-old, known as Boy B, was given a four-month detention and training order after he admitted possessing a knife. | Another 17-year-old, known as Boy B, was given a four-month detention and training order after he admitted possessing a knife. |
| 'Shoved upstairs' | 'Shoved upstairs' |
| Throughout the trial, Mrs Makki said, she would see both defendants outside the courtroom. | Throughout the trial, Mrs Makki said, she would see both defendants outside the courtroom. |
| "One of them used to moonwalk past us and laugh, the other one just used to smirk at us," she said. | "One of them used to moonwalk past us and laugh, the other one just used to smirk at us," she said. |
| Mrs Makki said she felt her family was "treated like criminals" and were left feeling "pushed out" of proceedings. | Mrs Makki said she felt her family was "treated like criminals" and were left feeling "pushed out" of proceedings. |
| She told BBC Radio 5 live: "We were actually shown a video of Yousef dead on the floor and we weren't warned about any of it. | |
| "That picture sticks in my daughter's head forever." | "That picture sticks in my daughter's head forever." |
| Mrs Makki said her son, a Manchester Grammar School pupil, was "made to look like the bad guy" during the trial. | Mrs Makki said her son, a Manchester Grammar School pupil, was "made to look like the bad guy" during the trial. |
| "The whole case for four weeks was aimed at the fact that these boys were good boys from a good area, as if they were innocent babies, as if they couldn't possibly do anything bad because they weren't from a council estate." | "The whole case for four weeks was aimed at the fact that these boys were good boys from a good area, as if they were innocent babies, as if they couldn't possibly do anything bad because they weren't from a council estate." |
| The family was "shoved upstairs" in the public gallery to watch the four-week trial "through a glass window", Mrs Makki said. | The family was "shoved upstairs" in the public gallery to watch the four-week trial "through a glass window", Mrs Makki said. |
| This made it difficult to hear proceedings and left them unable to see the accused, she said. | This made it difficult to hear proceedings and left them unable to see the accused, she said. |
| "They're protected like babies with their families next to them and we're told there is no room for us," she said. | "They're protected like babies with their families next to them and we're told there is no room for us," she said. |
| Yousef, from an Anglo-Lebanese family from Burnage, had won a scholarship to the prestigious £12,000-a-year school. | Yousef, from an Anglo-Lebanese family from Burnage, had won a scholarship to the prestigious £12,000-a-year school. |
| 'Intelligent, caring, kind' | |
| He was stabbed in the village, which is popular with footballers and celebrities. | He was stabbed in the village, which is popular with footballers and celebrities. |
| Mrs Makki described him as "extremely intelligent, caring, kind" and "always true to himself". | Mrs Makki described him as "extremely intelligent, caring, kind" and "always true to himself". |
| "It is as if a light has gone out," she added. | "It is as if a light has gone out," she added. |
| The Ministry of Justice said the family had been offered a "private victim's suite" but "opted on many occasions to go straight to court using public corridors". | |
| "The family did not raise any issue with using public corridors with court staff or the family's police liaison during the trial," the statement said. | |
| The MoJ said it was explained to the family that it would be "more appropriate" for them to use the upper public gallery, away from the defendant's family. | |
| They were offered three sets of headphones but, because of the number of people attending, "this facility was not available for all". | |
| HM Courts and Tribunal Service is now considering putting speakers in the upstairs public gallery, the statement said. |