Watch moment boy, 15, pulls out knife used to stab teen in Birmingham

Two teens, both aged 15, who cannot be named due to their age, were sentenced today for the murder of Muhammad Ali, who was stabbed to death in Birmingham’s Victoria Square earlier this year.

Muhammad Ali, known as Ali, died in hospital on January 20, hours after he and his friend were followed through the city by two masked boys they did not know, before he was stabbed in the chest by one of them as they sat chatting.

West Midlands Police have released harrowing CCTV footage that shows the moment one of the teens pulls out the knife he used to kill Muhammad.

The pair confronted Muhammad and his friend, demanding to know where they were from and if they were responsible for an earlier attack on one of their friends, which they weren’t.

They continued to quiz the friends, until Muhammad told the pair to go away because he didn’t know what they were talking about.

At that, one of the boys suddenly pulled out a large knife and stabbed him in the chest before fleeing.

Muhammad was taken to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, but the damage to his heart was too severe and was later pronounced dead.

West Midlands Police launched a major investigation and arrested the two teenagers on January 23. They were sentenced in Birmingham Crown Court today, November 1.

At the hearing, Judge Mr Justice Garnham said Muhammad’s murder was “yet another illustration of the appalling consequences of carrying knives in public places”.

He said: “It is perfectly clear to me [Muhammad] was a much-loved son and brother and his family have been left utterly devastated by his death.”

A jury took just over four hours to return unanimous verdicts in July, finding the boy who carried out the fatal attack guilty of murder and possessing a knife and his friend, who was standing nearby when the stabbing happened, guilty of manslaughter and possessing a knife.

The 15-year-old convicted of murder was today ordered to be detained for a minimum of 13 years. The other was jailed for five years.

Neither of the boys showed any emotion as they were sentenced.

Today at Birmingham Crown Court, the boy convicted of murder was ordered to be detained at his majesty’s pleasure for at least 13 years. The other was jailed for five years.

In a statement today, Muhammad’s family said: “We as a family still can’t even bear to think about how he died, even writing the word murdered destroys a little bit of us again.

“The loss of Muhammad, or any child, is devastating and life destroying but the fact that someone has so brutally taken his life in such a horrific way will always haunt us.

“It’s so difficult to express how his death has affected our family’s lives.

"His teachers told us how clever he was and the kindness he showed in helping others.

“The students told us how friendly and chatty he was to be around and they told us how they will miss him.

“He dreamt of becoming an engineer and his passion was to work hard to achieve his goal.

“This dream will no longer come true, not for wanting to work hard but at the hands of another."

Det Insp Michelle Thurgood from West Midlands Police, who led the investigation, said: “Sadly this is another case that of young men carrying a knife, and being willing to use it with catastrophic consequences.

“Muhammad had simply been enjoying a day out with a friend.

“There’s no evidence at all that he knew either of the boys who went on to kill him, and no evidence he was involved in any earlier attack.

“This appalling violence which causes misery on families has to stop.

“We are relentless in our work to tackle knife crime, arresting those who do carry blades, and helping to educate those who could be drawn into that lifestyle.

“But we need help. We need help from parents, guardians, teachers – anyone who cares for young people.

“I’d urge them to share Muhammad’s story with the young people in their lives and to really consider the devastating consequences it has had for everyone involved.”