A disturbed teenager who stabbed a 12-year-old schoolboy to death after spending three days 'hunting' for victims in a Birmingham park has been jailed for a minimum of 13 years. The 15-year-old, who cannot yet be named, admitted the murder of Leo Ross as well as vicious attacks on three elderly women in the days leading up to the killing, all within Shire Country Park.
Horrific and shocking crimes
Judge Mr Justice Choudhury told the defendant at Birmingham Crown Court: 'What you did in the park last January is horrific and shocking. You went around the park looking for people to hurt. You chose people who were weaker and smaller than you. I hope you realise how cowardly your actions were.' The judge added that Leo was 'an innocent boy, 12 years old, loved by all who knew him, with his whole future ahead of him.'
Family's devastating impact statements
Court Number One was packed with members of Leo's family as his killer was sentenced. Leo's father Chris Ross directly addressed the teenager in the dock, demanding he look at him as he delivered his victim impact statement. Mr Ross said: 'You killed my son, your horrendous act has destroyed me. Look at me. Leo was loved by everyone, everyone said how special he was. He was the kindest little boy.'
He continued emotionally: 'It breaks my heart to think he was alone and I wasn't there to protect him because of you. He was on his own, scared, lying in a bush. Leo would never have hurt a soul, he never did anything to anybody. That day has meant I am living a life sentence, you know. Without my special little boy there is no minimum term to my sentence.'
Leo's mother Rachel Fisher described her son as 'truly the most kind, funny and caring little boy.' She revealed that her family had been 'shattered' by Leo's death, which occurred on his grandmother's birthday, and that his grandfather suffered a heart attack at the funeral. 'He was my first-born child. I love Leo more than life itself. My life will never be the same again,' she said.
Three days of violence against elderly women
The court heard how the teenager's violent spree began three days before Leo's murder. In his first attack on January 19, he pushed an 82-year-old woman into a river and struck her with her own walking pole. Prosecuting barrister Rachel Brand KC told the court the defendant told the victim: 'I tried to drown you. But now I'm going to kill you instead.'
The elderly woman sustained multiple bruises, a laceration to her head, a broken nose, black eyes, a fractured rib and two broken fingers requiring surgery. Remarkably, after the attack, the teenager pretended to seek help, telling someone nearby: 'There's an old lady in the water and she needs help.'
The day before murdering Leo, the boy attacked a 72-year-old woman, leaving her bleeding 'profusely' from a head wound. Ms Brand explained: 'He, on his bicycle, approached her from behind and either pushed or struck her with an object on the left side of her back. Before leaving the area, he said "I'm sorry."' The victim lost consciousness and suffered broken ribs along with injuries requiring hip replacement surgery.
Within half an hour of killing Leo, the teenager attacked a 79-year-old woman who 'screamed' when he pushed her down. Although she sustained only soreness and muscle strain, she was described as 'shocked and alarmed' about what happened. Ms Brand noted that the boy 'turned and smiled' at the woman after the assault.
No logical explanation for the violence
Defence barrister Alistair Webster KC acknowledged it was impossible to provide a reason why the 15-year-old had decided to kill Leo and attack vulnerable elderly women. He stated: 'The effect upon family, friends, is long-standing and significant and I want to make it clear nothing we will say should be seen as suggesting any of his victims were inviting what he did to them.'
Mr Webster added: 'His behaviour has been an appalling shock to his own family and left them, in turn, in torment. Many lives have been seriously adversely affected and of course, Leo's life was taken from him. He will, reflecting the serious nature of the offending, have to be detained for life.'
Background and identification ruling
Following his convictions last month, it emerged the boy had a reputation for violence in Birmingham's Hall Green area where he lived and was known to police. He had been expelled from both mainstream school and a specialist pupil referral unit, instead spending his days riding around on a scooter or bicycle.
After applications from media representatives, Mr Justice Choudhury ruled that the killer should be named due to the significant public interest in the case. The judge stated: 'The defendant has pleaded guilty and falls to be sentenced for very serious crimes, including murder – the most serious of all.' He added that the public would want to know 'what could have led a child to commit such acts.'
The teenager can be identified in reporting from 1pm on February 11 to allow time for a possible appeal of the identification decision. The case has sent shockwaves through the Birmingham community and raised serious questions about youth violence and public safety in urban parks.
