By Abimbola Ogunnaike
A Newcastle Crown Court in United Kingdom has, on Thursday, 15 June, 2023, sentenced Leighton Amies aged 15 to 12 years in prison for stabbing to death 14-year-old Tomasz Oleszak.
Following the verdict, Mr Justice Martin Spencer lifted a ban on the media identifying the teenage killer, who was automatically granted anonymity due to his age.
He was 14 at the time of the murder.
His identity was reported because of the seriousness of the crime, in the hopes it would deter other teenagers from carrying knives.
Explaining his reasoning behind lifting the ban on reporting the 15-year-old’s name, the judge said: “There is a public interest in trying to deflect young people from the carrying of knives, where when that happens, this kind of utterly tragic outcome can occur.’
“In my judgement, the public interest in reporting fully of these proceedings, including the identity of the defendant, in fact outweighs the interests of the defendant in having the anonymity of his identity maintained,” he added.
Jurors had heard Amies had been walking through Whitehills Nature Park with his girlfriend at around 8pm on the night of the incident, carrying a serrated kitchen knife in his jacket pocket which he said was for ‘reassurance’.
A group of youths followed the couple, and the killer used the knife on Tomasz before shouting to the gang: “I’ve wetted your boy”, the court was told.
Peter Makepeace KC, defending, told the jury the teenager had not been looking for trouble, saying: “This is a 14-year-old under group attack and having to make terrible decisions under a moment’s notice”.
But the judge said Amies ‘relished’ having a knife that night and became emotional as Ms Wisniewska cried in the public gallery.
Mr Justice Spencer said to her: “Mum, don’t cry so much, Tomasz wouldn’t want you to.”
Speaking of Tomasz, he said: “This was the beautiful, exceptional, gifted boy whose life you, Leighton, brought to an end.”
Outside court, Detective Inspector Chris Deavin said: “This is a truly tragic case and our thoughts very much remain with Tomasz’s heartbroken family and loved ones, who are facing the worst sentence of all – a life without Tomasz.
“This case should send an unequivocal message to anyone who chooses to carry a weapon of any kind or believes that violence is acceptable that the consequences can be devastating.
“Look at the pain this tragedy has caused – not only could you take away someone else’s future and destroy the lives of their loved ones, but also ruin your own life and those of your family and friends.”
Source: Metro UK
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