Father's Devastating Outburst as Teenage Killer Receives Life Sentence for Random Park Murder
The grieving father of murdered 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross has expressed profound fury toward his son's teenage killer, demanding that the perpetrator should never be released from prison. The 15-year-old murderer, whose identity remains protected by legal restrictions, was sentenced today to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years for fatally stabbing Leo as the child walked home from school last year.
A Remorseless Attacker and Family Trauma
In an exclusive interview, Leo's devastated father Chris, 39, revealed the teenager's shocking courtroom behaviour and complete lack of remorse. "He should be in jail for life," Chris stated emphatically. "He has shown no remorse, but could be out in his 20s. How is that justice? That ain't justice. If you kill someone you should do life yourself. I think that's fair."
The remorseless teenager, who committed this horrifying murder just over a year ago, even attempted to taunt his victim's family during court proceedings. Chris described confronting the killer: "At the first hearing he came up out of the dock. I looked him in the eyes through the glass and he just started laughing. It was just total disrespect. He clearly didn't care."
A Completely Random and Unprovoked Attack
The killer, who had previously been expelled from full-time education, was unknown to Leo, whom police described as a model student with a flawless behavioural record. Chilling footage captured the teenager cycling around Yardley Wood as Leo made his way home as usual on January 21.
The attacker then savagely stabbed Leo in the stomach with a kitchen knife in what authorities have characterised as a "completely random and unprovoked" assault while he was actively "hunting" for a victim. Detectives have stated that this represented brutal violence purely for violence's sake.
The perpetrator, aged only 14 at the time, is believed to have targeted Leo specifically because the boy was "much physically bigger" and presented an "easy target" while walking home alone.
A Gentle Boy with a Passion for Nature
Leo was living in foster care when tragically murdered, having been taken in by a family after Chris, who has long been separated from Leo's mother Rachel Fisher, acknowledges he had legal issues that resulted in prison time. Chris explained that his own parents died when he was young and he was "brought up on the street."
"Leo was nothing like me," Chris reflected emotionally. "He didn't have a bad bone in his body. He never once got into trouble or had an argument with anyone. He was such a kind little boy. He was just so gentle and timid. He was a shy kid."
"He was the opposite of me. I tried to get him boxing lessons, but he wasn't like that, he didn't have that in him. All he wanted to do was look through his microscope at fossils, crystals and gems. He loved his rocks and gems. He loved nature, anything wild like that, he loved it. He also loved playing on his PS5. He was such a good kid - he was always happy and he just loved everyone."
Community Mourning and Heartbreaking Tributes
Hundreds gathered at Leo's funeral last March to pay their respects. His bright blue coffin, adorned with artwork featuring games consoles, was carried into the church. Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy in Yardley, where Leo was a pupil, closed for the day so the school community could honour the "lovely and bright" student.
Thousands of Birmingham City FC supporters, the club Leo followed and had been a mascot for, paid tribute during the 12th minute of a match. Chris, who describes these tributes as both "heartbreaking" and "overwhelming," maintained an active role in Leo's life, regularly spending time with him on outings such as bowling and other activities.
Overwhelming Guilt and Unbearable Loss
However, Chris confessed to feeling a deep sense of guilt over Leo being in foster care, which meant he couldn't walk him home from school. "I wish I'd never messed up because if I hadn't I would have been there to walk him home from school and it would never have happened," he expressed painfully. "I would have been there. The guilt I feel now that I wasn't there to be able to protect him is horrible. If I'd been there, it wouldn't have happened."
Holding back tears, Chris added: "That's the hardest thing for me. I'll never get over it knowing that he was walking home from school alone. He must have been so scared. I just can't get it out of my head how scared he must have been. I just can't get it out of my head."
The Devastating Moment of Discovery
Recounting the heartbreaking moment he learned of Leo's death, Chris said: "I got a call from the police telling me I needed to come to hospital. I already knew he was dead because of the way they worded it. I knew he was gone."
"When I got to the hospital I wasn't allowed to touch him or see him close-up. I was only allowed to look at him through a glass screen because of the forensic examination. I had to tell my daughter Leo would never be coming home from school. It was horrible. It was brutal."
"I was heartbroken, destroyed. I still can't understand it - it doesn't make sense, none of it. Leo died just over a year ago, but it feels like it was yesterday. I still don't sleep."
A Pattern of Violence and Failed Interventions
Leo's murder marked the boy's fourth attack in the same park within just three days. Earlier that day, the killer had attempted to assault a woman who was alone in the same park, but had been interrupted - compelling him to escape. The teenager had also assaulted an elderly woman with her own walking stick and shoved her into the River Cole on January 19.
The following day, on January 20, he launched another assault on a solitary woman walking in the park, inflicting severe injuries before fleeing the scene. He had reportedly spent months terrorising his local area, vandalising properties and being escorted home by the police prior to his violent spree in the park.
Deceptive Behaviour and Eventual Apprehension
Despite his local infamy, the killer attempted to portray himself as a hero to police at the scene, alleging that he had discovered Leo and dutifully called for assistance. He was filmed telling officers: "I seen him and I seen this woman - she was walking down so I told her to call you guys. Then I went to get some help from different people, and that's all I know about it."
Detectives suspect that the killer lingered at the scene of the attack in Trittiford Mill Park because he enjoyed watching the "chaos of his actions unfold." He was eventually apprehended hours after Leo's murder when he scoffed at police and taunted them that they wouldn't find any evidence on his clothing or in his house.
However, authorities were able to connect him to the crime after finding clothing stained with Leo's blood at his residence and retrieving the murder weapon, which had been discarded in the river. The weapon bore both his DNA and Leo's DNA.
Campaigning for Change and Preventing Future Tragedies
Chris appreciates police efforts but feels they could have done more to apprehend the youth before his criminal behaviour escalated to murder. "He beat up an elderly woman with her own walking stick in the days before and still didn't get arrested," he stated. "He should have been dealt with by the police before he got to Leo. It could have been prevented."
The assailant finally admitted to Leo's murder at Birmingham Crown Court last month. He also confessed to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to previous attacks on three elderly victims. Additionally, he admitted to possessing a bladed article on the day he killed Leo.
Transforming Grief into Positive Action
Chris, who previously served in the army, abandoned a college course for his digger and dumper licence following Leo's murder and confesses he resorted to alcohol in an attempt to numb the trauma. He is receiving support from his partner of five years, Emily Sheridan, as well as anti-knife crime campaigners.
Among those supporting Chris are Caroline Willgoose, whose 15-year-old son Harvey was fatally stabbed at school in Sheffield shortly after Leo's death, and Courtney Barrett, founder of the Binning Knives Saves Lives campaign. Chris, a Coventry resident, says these individuals, along with countless others he's never met, have been instrumental in helping him cope and preventing a complete breakdown.
Inside the courtroom today, he delivered an emotional personal impact statement directly to his son's killer, explaining that he is now serving his own life sentence without his "special little boy." He described how "there will always be a hole in my life where Leo should be."
He continued: "It breaks my heart that I will not be able to see my boy grow up and the man that he would become."
In his flat, surrounded by poignant reminders of Leo - photographs, a personalised number plate, and a blanket from his son's bed - Chris explained his determination to channel his devastating experience into helping others. "I've been stuck in limbo since I got that phone call," he said. "I now want to spread awareness about knife crime and how it's affecting kids. It's not acceptable."
"We've got £10,000 worth of bleed kits for schools around Coventry and we want to get boxes with them fitted on walls in the city. I can't say that Leo's life would have been saved had there been a bleed kit nearby, but there's a good chance he would still be with us today. I don't want anyone else to go through the nightmare that we have."
