Home Mobile games Living community 5G technology Commercial street Fashion icon More

Schoolboy from ‘loving family’ who stabbed classmate, 15, through heart detained for life

2024-06-25 HaiPress

Alfie Lewis,15,was stabbed outside a school in the Horsforth area of Leeds

Mr Justice Cotter said people would be wondering how a young boy like Shofaeifard,who came from a “loving and supportive family” could commit such an “extraordinary” crime.

He said that Shojaeifard was a “normal 14-year-old boy” who had no involvement in drugs or gangs,and did not suffer from mental health issues.

Youth workers described Shojaeifard as a “polite,intelligent and articulate” boy who “could have done well at school” and  had the potential to”thrive academically”.

The judge added: “Unlike Alfie you had no social,emotional or mental needs and when you behaved badly at school it was your choice to do so.”

The judge noted however that the schoolboy had a “worrying interest in knives” and police found several pictures on his phone of him holding them.

Another photo showed Shojaeifard posing with a black-handled knife that had been photoshopped into his hand.

Shojaeifard poses with a knife that had been photoshopped into his hand

Credit: West Yorkshire Police/PA

Nicholas Lumley KC,mitigating,said Shojaeifard’s parents were a “utterly decent,supportive,loving” couple who were “thriving in this adoptive country”.

Addressing the defendant directly as she read her victim impact statement in court,Alfie’s own mother Heather Lane said: “No sentence will ever be enough for what you have done. I will never,ever forgive you.”

Ms Lane sobbed as she said: “We laughed,danced and smiled,we loved each other for 15 years and I thought we would for the rest of my life.”

During the trial,prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said Alfie had been walking down the street to meet friends after leaving Horsforth School for the day when the defendant attacked him.

Police at the scene where Alfie died near a primary school in Leeds

Credit: SWNS

He said witnesses recalled Alfie looking “surprised and shocked” and saying: “What are you doing?” as the incident unfolded close to St Margaret’s Primary School just before 3pm on Nov 7 2023.

The prosecutor said: “He was approached by (the defendant),and stabbed twice – once in the chest and once in the leg.

“He collapsed and died in the road close to the primary school in full view of scores of pupils leaving school and the people who were waiting to collect them.”

He told the jury the defendant,who dropped the murder weapon close to the primary school, was captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.

Shojaeifard used a 13cm-long kitchen knife he had taken from home to stab Alfie

Credit: UNPIXS

The court heard all the witnesses were “consistent” in saying that Alfie was “not the aggressor” that day.

The defendant told the jury he was scared of Alfie after two incidents in the months before.

Mr Justice Cotter said he simply did not accept Shojaeifard’s evidence that he was “trying to scare Alfie away and swung the knife aimlessly”.

He said one witness described Shojaeifard’s attack as “vicious” and that he was “trying as much as he could to inflict some sort of damage to Alfie”.

He added: “Knives have stolen so many lives,and you and others must understand how dangerous this obsession is.

“Without your interest in knives Alfie would be here today.”

Disclaimer: This article is reproduced from other media. The purpose of reprinting is to convey more information. It does not mean that this website agrees with its views and is responsible for its authenticity, and does not bear any legal responsibility. All resources on this site are collected on the Internet. The purpose of sharing is for everyone's learning and reference only. If there is copyright or intellectual property infringement, please leave us a message.

Newest

Remarks by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the 2024 ESG Global Leaders Conference

Baidu to Report Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on Nov 21, 2024

WuXi Biologics Launches WuXia™ RidGS for Non-Antibiotic Cell Line Development

A model for China's ecological development: Refreshing Guiyang, turning lush mountains and lucid waters into invaluable assets

Biban24 creates innovative "Doors" of opportunity for SMEs and entrepreneurs from around the world to explore

NEOM Board of Directors showcases progress with opening of Sindalah, a new luxury travel destination in the Red Sea

©Copyright 2009-2020 Startup Weekly    Contact Us  SiteMap