Britain’s youngest murderers since James Bulger’s killers: Boys, 12, jailed for stabbing teen in random machete attack
27 September 2024, 11:52 | Updated: 27 September 2024, 13:37
Britain's youngest knife murderers, who were aged 12 when they killed a teenager with a machete, have both been sentenced to life with a minimum term of eight years and six months.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
Shawn Seesahai, 19, died after being stabbed in the heart on Stowlawn playing fields in East Park, Wolverhampton last November.
The now 13-year old boys are the youngest defendants since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were sentenced for murder of toddler James Bulger in 1993 - one of the most infamous crimes in recent British history.
The pair cannot be named or pictured because of a court anonymity order.
It also was revealed that one of the boys had been previously stopped by authorities for carrying knives.
Shawn's father has urged parents to be more aware of what their children may be up to.
"Kids are dangerous now. And if we don't pay attention to our kids, it will happen every day."
Shawn Seesahai was struck on his back, legs and skull while in Stowlawn playing fields in East Park.
The fatal wound to his back was more than 20cm deep and "almost came out" of his chest after going "through his heart".
He died at the scene.
The 16 inch knife used in the attack had been bought online for £40.
Read more: Nicola Bulley's partner speaks out on online 'monster' family endured during search for missing mum
In Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, the judge Mrs Justice Tipples told the boys: "When you killed Shawn he was 19, starting out in his adult life with everything to live for.
"His parents have lost their son. His sister has lost her brother.
"What you did is horrific and shocking. You did not know Shawn, he was a stranger to you. You both killed Shawn in an attack that lasted less than a minute when he asked you to move (from a bench).
"I am sure you intended to kill him."
The judge previously rejected a media application to lift the reporting restrictions which prevent Mr Seesahai's murderers from being identified because of their age.
The judge added that she could not be sure which of the boys had inflicted a 23cm-deep wound which almost passed all the way through Mr Seesahai's body.
'No reason'
In a victim impact statement read to the sentencing hearing, the family of Mr Seesahai said they are haunted by thoughts of how scared he must have been when he was killed.
Relatives of Anguilla-born Mr Seesahai described his murder as tragic, unexpected and senseless, and having been committed "for no reason at all".
Both boys blamed the other for inflicting four wounds with the machete, after a dispute with the victim about sitting on a park bench.
One of the boys admitted possession of the knife prior to the trial, while the other was found guilty of the same charge when they were both unanimously convicted of murder on June 10.
'Shocking and saddening'
A senior West Midlands Police officer has said the murder of Shawn Seesahai was both "shocking and saddening" after his killers were jailed.
Chief Superintendent Kim Madill, speaking outside Nottingham Crown Court after the sentencing, said: "Shawn was only 19 when his life was taken at the hands of two boys, then aged just 12, who had armed themselves with a machete.
"That reality has had a huge impact on us all, it is both shocking and saddening.
"The impact of knife crime is devastating no matter where you live in the country, this is an issue that affects us all.
"Much work has been done and we have had successes in some areas, however, this is clearly not enough.
'Horrifically cruel'
A Crown Prosecution Service senior Crown prosecutor said the two killers "should have been enjoying their childhood rather than arming themselves with a machete and killing an innocent person".
Jonathan Roe said: "As prosecutors, we often deal with harrowing cases, but this case is particularly distressing due to the complete senselessness and devastating consequences of the defendants' actions.
"The defendants at the age of 12 should have been enjoying their childhood rather than arming themselves with a machete and killing an innocent person.
"Shawn Seesahai lost his life in a horrifically cruel way.
"I hope today's sentencing serves as a reminder of the dangers of carrying machetes.
"Shawn's family have shown remarkable strength and dignity in the aftermath of such a tragedy and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."
"We are listening to families affected by knife crime and acting on their feedback to see what more we can do with partners to stop the devastation caused by knife crime.
"Our responsibility is to work together with partners to understand why children and young people think it is OK to carry weapons and take further action to stop this extremely dangerous behaviour."
Toddler Jamie Bulger was kidnapped, tortured and killed by two 10-year-old boys in Merseyside in 1993.
He was led away from the New Strand shopping centre in Bootle by Jon Venables and his accomplice, Robert Thompson, while his mum, Denise Fergus, paid for her shopping.
His mutiliated body was found two days later on a railway line.
The pair were released aged 18 in 2001 after just eight years, and were given new identities but to remain on licence for life.
Thompson has not reoffended. Venables was sent back to jail in 2010 and 2017 after being caught with child sex abuse images on his computer.
