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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
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Kyle O'Sullivan

Where is Joshua Molnar now - rich teen who stabbed pal Yousef Makki to death in row

Joshua Molnar served eight months in prison after stabbing his friend to death after a row.

Yousef Makki was stabbed in the heart by Molnar with a flick knife in March 2019 in the upmarket village of Hale Barns in Cheshire when they were both aged 17.

Molnar claimed self-defence and was cleared of murder and manslaughter by a jury, but admitted to possessing the knife which caused Yousef's fatal wound and perverting the course of justice.

Police body-cam footage released for the first time in a new Channel 4 documentary, Killed By a Rich Kid, shows Molnar lying to the police.

At an inquest into the stabbing in November last year, Molnar said they then came to blows and knives were produced, which led to the fatal blow.

In the lead up to Yousef's death, there was what was described as a revenge attack, Great Manchester Police told the inquest.

The court heard this led to Molnar being beaten up and his £2,000 bike thrown in a hedge and lost - while Yousef stood by and another pal, Adam Chowdhary, fled.

Joshua Molnar, pictured arriving at Manchester Crown Court in 2019, was cleared of murder and manslaughter charges (PA)
Molnar was released from prison after eight months (MEN MEDIA)

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In the video, a topless Molnar is seen speaking to police officers just moments after Yousef was stabbed.

Claiming that Yousef was walking ahead, Molnar says that they came round the corner and his friend had "just fallen over".

He was captured telling an officer: "We've come sprinting over and the guy was just coughing up blood. I've taken my shirt off and I've put pressure on it.

"But he hasn't been able to say anything and he's been, like, gasping for breath."

Molnar was cleared of murder and manslaughter in July 2019 by a jury but admitted possession of a knife which caused Yousef's death and perverting the course of justice by initially lying to police at the scene.

He was sentenced to a 16 month detention and training order and was released in February 2020.

Chowdhary was acquitted of perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to rob.

He was handed a four-month detention and training order after he admitted possessing a flick-knife and was released halfway through his sentence in September 2019.

Yousef Makki was fatally stabbed with a flick-knife in 2019 (PA)
Yousef with loving mum Debbie, who sadly died in 2020 (MEN Media)

Just days after Molnar was released, some members of Yousef's devastated family held a press conference on the anniversary of his death.

His distraught sister, Jade Akoum, explained the previous 12 months had been a "living hell" and Yousef's mum Debbie was too upset to attend.

She said the family wanted to 'hide away' on the anniversary of his death, but thought that speaking out now was the perfect time to show they would 'never give up'.

"We still don't truly understand what events that happened in the lead up to and on the night of Yousef's death and it's incredibly difficult to focus on what's next," she said.

Her partner, Mazen Akoum, said: "Him being released was the third knife through our heart. The first knife was in Yousef's heart, the second knife was the verdict and third knife was this shock."

The family called for tougher sentences for knife crime and planned to leave behind a legacy for their 'gifted boy', with Jade adding: "We don't want another family to go through what we've been through."

Yousef's mum Debbie sadly died of Sepsis in May 2020 aged 55.

During an inquest into the stabbing in November last year, Senior South Manchester Coroner Alison Mutch recorded a narrative conclusion.

Yousef was just 17 when he died (MEN Media)

The coroner said she could not, on the balance of probabilities, conclude the death was an unlawful killing, accidental death, misadventure or even an open verdict.

Ms Mutch said: "Yousef died from complications of a stab wound to chest.

"The precise circumstances in which he was wounded cannot, on balance of probabilities, be ascertained."

Yousef's sister, Jade slammed the verdict. "To say we are disappointed is an understatement," she said. "We are disgusted."

Olliers Solicitors, for Joshua Molnar, issued a statement in the wake of the coroner's conclusion.

It said: "This has been a tragic and unusual case. It has attracted much comment in the press, on social media and even from politicians.

Police body-cam footage shows Joshua Molnar speaking to police after the stabbing (Channel 4)

"The evidence has now been tested rigorously, both at trial before a High Court Judge and in an inquest before an experienced, senior coroner. The coroner's decision today is consistent with the evidence and the verdict of the jury.

"It is the right decision. It shows we have a functioning justice system.

"Josh has accepted responsibility for his involvement in Yousef’s death. His remorse is genuine and heartfelt. He will live with this for the rest of his life.

"This was a truly tragic incident between friends and we hope today’s decision will bring an end to any further speculation.

"There are no winners here. A young life has been lost and a family devastated by his death. But to continue to suggest that Josh is guilty is wrong and those who persist in saying that are ignoring the conclusions of both court proceedings.

"Those conclusions ought now to be respected."

Three years on, the case will be looked at in detail in tonight's new Channel 4 documentary, Killed by a Rich Kid.

Yousef Makki's death has left his family in terrible pain (MEN Media)
Yousef was just 17 when he was killed (MEN Media)

The film takes a forensic look at the killing by going through the evidence, which includes witness interviews, 999 calls and police camera footage.

It will also delve into subsequent trial of Molnar and the inquest into Yousef's death - with the victim's family still desperate to discover exactly what happened on that night.

Yousef's sister Jade Akoum, is leading a campaign for the case to be revisited and is seen breaking down in tears while be consoled by her partner.

"I'm trying to be strong but he was my brother," says Jade in the documentary.

"All the details that they said and how he died and we weren't there for him and I'll never forgive myself that I couldn't be there

"He died on his own miles away from where he comes from and we were thinking he was safe."

*Killed by a Rich Kid airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm

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