A 15-year-old boy in the UK has been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Muhammad Hassam Ali in Birmingham city centre earlier this year. Ali was attacked in Victoria Square in January after he and a friend were followed by two masked youths. Hours after the assault, Ali died in the hospital.
The teenage assailant, who remains unnamed for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder and possessing a knife, with a minimum sentence of 13 years. His co-defendant, also 15, received a five-year sentence in secure detention after being found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a knife. Neither boy showed any reaction as Judge Mr. Justice Garnham handed down the sentences.
In his remarks, Judge Garnham condemned the act as “yet another illustration of the appalling consequences of carrying knives in public places,” noting that Ali’s family has been left “utterly devastated.”
Ali’s family shared an emotional statement, saying, “The loss of Muhammad, or any child, is devastating and life-destroying, but the fact that someone has so brutally taken his life will always haunt us.” They described Ali as a kind, friendly student who dreamed of becoming an engineer, a goal he worked diligently to achieve.
Court proceedings revealed that Ali and his friend were approached by the two boys while sitting in Victoria Square. The attackers, who wore Covid-style masks, asked Ali if he knew who had assaulted one of their acquaintances. When Ali responded that he didn’t know, one of the boys pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed him.
The assailant claimed in court that he only meant to “scare” Ali and didn’t intend serious harm. His defense argued that he carried a knife out of fear, as he had previously been attacked, and expressed regret for Ali’s death. The other youth claimed he had been “shocked and crying” after the incident, insisting he hadn’t known his friend was armed.
Michael Ivers KC, representing the convicted teen, stated that his client deeply regrets the incident and prays for Ali’s family. “If he could turn back time, he would, not for his own sake, but because of the impact on others,” he said.
