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 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/21/teenager-jailed-life-schoolboy-fight
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Teenager jailed for life over fatal schoolboy fight | Teenager jailed for life over fatal schoolboy fight |
| (7 days later) | |
| A 15-year-old boy has been given a life sentence for killing a schoolboy whose stabbing was recorded on his own mobile phone. | A 15-year-old boy has been given a life sentence for killing a schoolboy whose stabbing was recorded on his own mobile phone. |
| Leroy James, 14, was knifed in a park by Mustafa Gurpinar, who was also 14 at the time. | Leroy James, 14, was knifed in a park by Mustafa Gurpinar, who was also 14 at the time. |
| Gurpinar had challenged Leroy on Facebook to a fight in a play area in Ponders End, north London, in August last year. But he pulled a knife out of his pocket when the larger boy got the better of him, the Old Bailey heard. | Gurpinar had challenged Leroy on Facebook to a fight in a play area in Ponders End, north London, in August last year. But he pulled a knife out of his pocket when the larger boy got the better of him, the Old Bailey heard. |
| Gurpinar was found guilty last month of murder by a 10-2 majority, and guilty of having a knife as an offensive weapon. | Gurpinar was found guilty last month of murder by a 10-2 majority, and guilty of having a knife as an offensive weapon. |
| The trial was told that Gurpinar, who called the weapon his "pet" or "alligator", had a fascination with knives. He later talked online about changing his "alligator" for a machete, which he called a "crocodile". | The trial was told that Gurpinar, who called the weapon his "pet" or "alligator", had a fascination with knives. He later talked online about changing his "alligator" for a machete, which he called a "crocodile". |
| Before the confrontation, Leroy handed his phone to a girl who videoed his death. The disturbing 12-second clip of the attack was shown to jurors. | Before the confrontation, Leroy handed his phone to a girl who videoed his death. The disturbing 12-second clip of the attack was shown to jurors. |
| Other youngsters egged on the two boys. But as they struggled, Leroy's white T-shirt became stained with blood as he was stabbed in the heart. | Other youngsters egged on the two boys. But as they struggled, Leroy's white T-shirt became stained with blood as he was stabbed in the heart. |
| Soon after, youngsters called out to him that he had been "bored", and Leroy collapsed on to his back. | Soon after, youngsters called out to him that he had been "bored", and Leroy collapsed on to his back. |
| Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said: "Whilst he remained on his feet for a few more seconds, soon he fell and his lifeblood ebbed away." | Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said: "Whilst he remained on his feet for a few more seconds, soon he fell and his lifeblood ebbed away." |
| Penny told the jury there was bad feeling between the boys, possibly about a girl, and others were encouraging them to fight. | Penny told the jury there was bad feeling between the boys, possibly about a girl, and others were encouraging them to fight. |
| "To those who were watching, what was expected to be a fist fight transpired to be anything but," Penny said. | "To those who were watching, what was expected to be a fist fight transpired to be anything but," Penny said. |
| Judge John Bevan ordered that Gurpinar serve a minimum of 13 years. | Judge John Bevan ordered that Gurpinar serve a minimum of 13 years. |
| He told Gurpinar: "You have an extreme interest in knives. You took the knife to the park. You showed a singular lack of restraint. You knew if he was going to fight, you would win." | He told Gurpinar: "You have an extreme interest in knives. You took the knife to the park. You showed a singular lack of restraint. You knew if he was going to fight, you would win." |
| The judge said Gurpinar had brought devastation to Leroy's family. | The judge said Gurpinar had brought devastation to Leroy's family. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |