The mother of a 15-year-old who was stabbed to death as he walked home from school has said “this violence has to stop” – as a judge allowed the naming of two teenagers jailed for life for his murder.
Khayri Mclean was fatally knifed after being ambushed by Jakele Pusey, 15, and Jovani Harriott, 17, close to North Huddersfield Trust School (NHTS), in the West Yorkshire town.
Leeds Crown Court heard how the two boys had targeted Khayri in a “revenge attack”, with Pusey described as “jumping into the air and swinging a knife with a 30cm blade”.
The incident, which was captured on CCTV, was said to have been provoked by Khayri sharing a video on social media after Harriott’s mother had a window broken at her house.
On September 21 last year, the pair waited for Khayri in an alleyway wearing balaclavas and carrying knives as he walked home with friends.
Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, said they “charged” towards him aggressively and Pusey stabbed Khayri in the chest with what proved to be a fatal blow, as it went through his ribs and penetrated one of his lungs and heart.
Pusey was on Thursday sentenced to a minimum term of 16 years for his murder, while Harriott will serve at least 18 years before being considered for release.
The younger defendant had already pleaded guilty to murder, while Harriott denied murder but was found guilty after a trial earlier this year.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Khayri’s mother Charlie Mclean said: “I ask myself what has this achieved?
“What has my son died for? Nobody has won in this situation.
“I’ve lost a child and other parents have lost two sons who have committed this offence.
“This violence has to stop, carrying weapons has to stop. I have lost my son and I would not wish this on anyone else.”
Ms Mclean said the boys who attacked her son were “cowards”, saying: “He was not given an opportunity to run or defend himself, he was helpless.
“The fear he went through when he realised he had been stabbed and was bleeding to death will stay with me forever.”
Family and friends of Khayri sat in the jury box for the sentencing hearing on Thursday wearing matching T-shirts featuring his picture.
A pre-sentence report on Pusey concluded that “violence against opposing gang members was the norm for (him) – the life he lived”.
The court heard that he began dealing class B drugs when he was about 13 years old, class A drugs from the age of 14, and regularly carried a knife.
Pusey had also admitted to probation officers that he had a history of gang-related criminality and was shot by masked men when he was 12 in a “gang incident”.
The judge, Mrs Justice Farbey, heard that Pusey was involved in a Huddersfield gang called F-block or Fartown Boys, whose exploits are celebrated by drill rap artist Booter Bee.
