A Muslim teenager has been found guilty of murder for stabbing White British student Harvey Willgoose to death during a fight at their school in Sheffield, England.
The 15-year-old stabbed Willgoose, who was also 15, in the heart with a hunting knife during their lunch break at All Saints Catholic High School on February 3.
The murderer cannot be named because of his age, but the British corporate media have also refused to mention his Pakistani Muslim background.
He admitted manslaughter and possessing a knife but pleaded not guilty to murder, leading to a month-long trial in the Sheffield Crown Court where a jury on Friday found him guilty with a majority verdict on 11 to one, BBC News reported.
After the verdict, which was greeted with cheers of “yes!” by Willgoose’s family, the judge told the murderer he will most likely be sentenced in October.
The jurors watched CCTV footage of the stabbing, which showed the two students arguing in the school courtyard before the murder pulled out a knife and stabbed Willgoose in the chest.
The force of the stabbing severed Willgoose’s rib.
The murderer tried to argue that he did not intend to kill his victim or cause him serious harm, and claimed he was the victim of racial abuse, social media taunts over a medical condition, and bullying.
He also claimed he was neglected and physically and emotionally abused at home, and told the court he did not remember the deadly stabbing, only that he “snapped” and “lost control”.
In statements made after the verdict the Crown Prosecution Service and South Yorkshire Police both issued warnings about “knife crime”.
Chris Hartley of the CPS said: “Very sadly knife crime continues to be an awful blight on local communities leaving people completely devastated by the senseless loss of young lives.
“We would like to express our huge sympathies for family and friends of Harvey Willgoose. We hope that these guilty verdicts bring some comfort to the Willgoose family that justice has been served here today.
“The CPS and South Yorkshire Police were able to prove that the defendant did not lose self-control but intended to deliberately attack 15 year old Harvey.
“We remind teenagers that there can be horrendous and serious consequences of carrying knives. It has been proven that if you carry these weapons, you are more likely to use them or be a victim of knife crime. You are putting yourself, other people and your future at risk.
“Please stop carrying knives and stop putting lives in danger.”
Detective Inspector Joe Hackworthy, deputy Senior Investigating Officer on this case, said: “This trial has been a heartbreaking reminder of the devastation knife crime causes in our communities.
“It tears lives and families apart – and that has never been more evident than in this tragic case.
“Tonight, one boy’s family will be spending another night grieving the unimaginable loss of their beloved son, while another boy’s family will be living with the reality that their son faces a life sentence behind bars for murder.”
Header image: Left, right, Harvey Willgoose (Facebook, Supplied).
