Home / Crime and Justice / Boy's Killer Gets 13 Years, Mother Calls Sentence 'Joke'
Boy's Killer Gets 13 Years, Mother Calls Sentence 'Joke'
10 Feb
Summary
- A 12-year-old boy was fatally stabbed on his way home from school.
- His killer, aged 14, received a 13-year minimum jail sentence.
- The mother of the victim called the sentence 'ridiculous' and 'a joke'.
A 12-year-old boy, Leo Ross, was fatally stabbed in a Birmingham park while walking home from school. His attacker, a 14-year-old who cannot be named for 24 hours pending appeal, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years. Leo's mother, Rachel Fisher, condemned the sentence as a "joke," arguing it is insufficient.
The killer had engaged in a three-day violent spree before fatally stabbing Leo. This included pushing an 82-year-old woman into a river and attacking two other women. The judge noted the killer's cowardly actions and his posing as a bystander after the attacks.
During sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr. Justice Choudhury acknowledged the devastating impact on Leo's family. Leo's mother described him as "kind, funny, and caring," stating his death has shattered her family. His father also expressed his profound grief.
The defense cited the attacker's "formidable mental health problems," including childhood conduct disorder and ADHD. The judge highlighted that the killer, still a child at 14 during the offenses, caused incomprehensible devastation. The prosecution detailed the prior attacks, emphasizing the random nature of the violence.
