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Teen Killer's 'Psychopath' Boast After Stabbing Father
14 Jan
Summary
- Father fatally stabbed by a 16-year-old while defending homeless man.
- Killer claimed to be a 'psychopath' in Snapchat messages post-murder.
- Murders by young people are increasingly prevalent, police note.
A father of four, James Gibbons, was fatally stabbed by a 16-year-old youth in Laindon, Essex, in May 2021. Gibbons was attacked after confronting teenagers harassing a homeless man near his home. The convicted murderer, Joshuah Sparks, reportedly messaged in a Snapchat group, "I don't care, I'm a psychopath," hours after the incident. He also searched online for information regarding accidental killings.
The mother of the victim, Wendy Richards, expressed her disbelief, stating, "We knew now that the police had someone in custody and it was a 16-year-old that killed my son. It's beyond belief." Essex Police noted that murders committed by young people are becoming increasingly prevalent, a trend supported by recent data showing a doubling in homicide convictions for under-16s over a decade.
Sparks was sentenced to at least 13 years in custody after being found guilty of murder, despite his claims of self-defense. The judge remarked that Sparks's actions were "utterly out of proportion" to the situation. The incident highlights a disturbing societal trend of escalating violence involving young offenders.
