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Conker row murder: Life for boy who killed Steven Grisales | Conker row murder: Life for boy who killed Steven Grisales |
(40 minutes later) | |
A 15-year-old boy convicted of murdering a student in a row over throwing conkers in north London has been given a life sentence. | A 15-year-old boy convicted of murdering a student in a row over throwing conkers in north London has been given a life sentence. |
Steven Grisales, 21, was stabbed in the heart in College Close, Edmonton, last August after he went to talk to some youths, the Old Bailey heard. | Steven Grisales, 21, was stabbed in the heart in College Close, Edmonton, last August after he went to talk to some youths, the Old Bailey heard. |
The group had been throwing conkers which were in their spiky casing. | The group had been throwing conkers which were in their spiky casing. |
The killer, who cannot be named because of his age, was detained for a minimum of 10-and-a-half years. | The killer, who cannot be named because of his age, was detained for a minimum of 10-and-a-half years. |
He denied being the killer, but was found guilty of murder last month. | He denied being the killer, but was found guilty of murder last month. |
'Grim' report | 'Grim' report |
The teenager blamed another youth for the stabbing, but was identified from his distinctive clothing on CCTV. | The teenager blamed another youth for the stabbing, but was identified from his distinctive clothing on CCTV. |
He claimed architecture student Mr Grisales had overreacted and tried to hit him with a skateboard. | |
But Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "This was a sudden, unnecessary killing as a response to a confrontation which took place in the street, which was about nothing very much. | But Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "This was a sudden, unnecessary killing as a response to a confrontation which took place in the street, which was about nothing very much. |
"It was about throwing some conkers." | "It was about throwing some conkers." |
The defendant had been in court for burglary and robbery and was subject to electronic tag monitoring as part of a rehabilitation order imposed the month before the murder. | The defendant had been in court for burglary and robbery and was subject to electronic tag monitoring as part of a rehabilitation order imposed the month before the murder. |
The prosecution told the jury the youth had removed the tag two days before the killing. | The prosecution told the jury the youth had removed the tag two days before the killing. |
Judge Richard Marks said the boy's pre-sentence report made "grim reading" and mentioned two incidents with knives, one at school and the other involving his mother. | Judge Richard Marks said the boy's pre-sentence report made "grim reading" and mentioned two incidents with knives, one at school and the other involving his mother. |
He added that Mr Grisales had been "an outstanding human being in many ways". | He added that Mr Grisales had been "an outstanding human being in many ways". |
The student had been shopping for his grandmother and was on his way to Silver Street station in Edmonton when he was attacked. | The student had been shopping for his grandmother and was on his way to Silver Street station in Edmonton when he was attacked. |
His mother, Jasmid Grisales, said in a statement that her son "always gave without expecting anything in return and he always tried for everyone around him to be happy". | His mother, Jasmid Grisales, said in a statement that her son "always gave without expecting anything in return and he always tried for everyone around him to be happy". |
She said: "We lost Steven forever. We have to carry this cross for the rest of our lives." | She said: "We lost Steven forever. We have to carry this cross for the rest of our lives." |
'Courageous intervention' | 'Courageous intervention' |
His father, Andres Grisales said the minimum sentence was too short. | His father, Andres Grisales said the minimum sentence was too short. |
He said: "Ten-and-a-half years for taking away our son, taking away his future, all of his plans. | He said: "Ten-and-a-half years for taking away our son, taking away his future, all of his plans. |
"It was amazing to learn how many offences he had committed before this - violent offences, robberies. | "It was amazing to learn how many offences he had committed before this - violent offences, robberies. |
"He broke his curfew so many times and nothing was done. There was no custodial sentence." | "He broke his curfew so many times and nothing was done. There was no custodial sentence." |
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said sentencing in individual cases was a matter for independent judges as only they had the full facts of the case before them. | A Ministry of Justice spokesman said sentencing in individual cases was a matter for independent judges as only they had the full facts of the case before them. |
But he said work was continuing to "break cycles of reoffending". | But he said work was continuing to "break cycles of reoffending". |
Det Insp Richard Beadle, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Steven did no more than stand up to an unruly youth and for that he has lost his life." | Det Insp Richard Beadle, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Steven did no more than stand up to an unruly youth and for that he has lost his life." |
He said it was the "courageous intervention" of a local resident which stopped the knife attack from continuing. | He said it was the "courageous intervention" of a local resident which stopped the knife attack from continuing. |
"The man placed himself in front of Steven while the youth was repeatedly attempting to stab him again." | "The man placed himself in front of Steven while the youth was repeatedly attempting to stab him again." |
He added that the defendant's arrogance and contempt for others belied his age. | He added that the defendant's arrogance and contempt for others belied his age. |