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-tyne-65275440

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Tomasz Oleszak murder: Teenager guilty of killing 14-year-old Tomasz Oleszak murder: Leighton Amies, 15, guilty of killing 14-year-old
(about 1 hour later)
Tomasz Oleszak died in hospital the day after he was injured Leighton Amies will be sentenced in June
A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Gateshead.A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Gateshead.
Tomasz Oleszak suffered an 8cm-deep wound to his chest when he was attacked in October and died the next day.Tomasz Oleszak suffered an 8cm-deep wound to his chest when he was attacked in October and died the next day.
A 15-year-old boy, who was 14 at the time, claimed he stabbed Tomasz by accident during an attack by a gang. Leighton Amies, who is 15 but was 14 at the time, claimed he stabbed Tomasz by accident during an attack by a gang.
Newcastle Crown Court jurors found him guilty of murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to another boy whose coat was slashed. A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found him guilty of murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to another boy whose coat was slashed.
The killer, who did not know Tomasz and came from another part of Tyneside, said he took a steak knife out with him on the spur of the moment on 3 October. The killer, who did not know Tomasz and lived in a different part of Tyneside, said he took a serrated steak knife out with him on the spur of the moment on 3 October.
'If you carry a knife, you're weak''If you carry a knife, you're weak'
He had gone to the Springwell area to meet a 14-year-old girl and had been walking her home through Whitehills Nature Park when she alerted him to a group of youths following them, the court had heard.He had gone to the Springwell area to meet a 14-year-old girl and had been walking her home through Whitehills Nature Park when she alerted him to a group of youths following them, the court had heard.
The youth said he pulled the knife out after being punched, kicked and grappled to the ground, but prosecutors said his claim of being attacked was a lie. Amies said he pulled the knife out after being punched, kicked and grappled to the ground, but prosecutors said his claim of being attacked was a lie.
After landing the fatal blow, the killer shouted to the gang: "I've wetted your boy", the court heard.
Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, told jurors: "He wanted them to know he had stabbed one of their number. It was a boast."
Tomasz Oleszak died in hospital the day after he was injured
Mr McKone said the group was not "blameless" as they had discussed hitting Amies, but he was the "aggressor" and the only injury he suffered was a minor one to his thumb.
Peter Makepeace KC, defending, said his client had been "flailing out indiscriminately in an act of self-defence".
Jurors heard Amies hid the knife in a bush and then messaged a friend saying he would have it "melted".
Tomasz's killer said he attacked him by accidentTomasz's killer said he attacked him by accident
Prosecutor Mark McKone QC said the group was not "blameless" as they had discussed hitting the boy, but the youth was the "aggressor" and the only injury he suffered was a minor one to his thumb.
The boy's lawyer, Peter Makepeace KC, said his client had been "flailing out indiscriminately in an act of self defence".
Jurors heard the boy hid the knife in a bush and then messaged a friend saying he would have it "melted".
In a statement previously released through police, Tomasz's mother Kamila said she, his father Patryk, and Tomasz's six-year-old brother were "devastated beyond words" by his killing.In a statement previously released through police, Tomasz's mother Kamila said she, his father Patryk, and Tomasz's six-year-old brother were "devastated beyond words" by his killing.
She said: "Tomasz was an amazing son, a kind and caring role model to his little brother and a great friend to so many."She said: "Tomasz was an amazing son, a kind and caring role model to his little brother and a great friend to so many."
The boy is due to be sentenced in June. Amies is due to be sentenced in June.
He can now be identified after the judge, Mr Justice Martin Spencer, lifted an anonymity order.
Mr Spencer said the public interest in knowing Amies' identity outweighed his interest in remaining anonymous, adding he hoped the case would act as a deterrent to other young people carrying knives and committing such "tragic and appalling" crimes.
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
GatesheadGateshead
Northumbria PoliceNorthumbria Police