A teenager has confessed to the murder of a 12-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed while walking home from school in Birmingham, as well as to a series of violent attacks on women in the city.
Court Hearing Reveals Guilty Pleas to Multiple Charges
Leo Ross was attacked at The Shire Country Park in Hall Green on January 21 last year, sustaining a fatal knife wound to the stomach. The 14-year-old defendant, who has since turned 15, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, January 29, where he pleaded guilty to murdering Leo.
In addition to the murder charge, the teenager admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a woman on January 19 last year and a similar charge involving a different woman on January 20 last year. He further pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman on January 21 and possession of a bladed article on the same date.
Further Charges and Legal Proceedings
The defendant denied two further counts of assault involving two different female victims in October and December of 2024. Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC confirmed that the pleas were acceptable to resolve the case, with the two latter assault charges to lie on the file.
Judge Paul Farrer KC adjourned sentencing until Tuesday, February 10, when High Court Judge Mr Justice Choudhury will preside over the hearing in Birmingham. Numerous media applications requesting reporting restrictions be lifted to name the teenager are expected to be determined on that date before sentence is passed.
Judge's Remarks and Sentencing Delay
Judge Farrer explained to the defendant that sentencing could not proceed immediately, stating, "I can't sentence you today for several reasons. Perhaps the most important of those reasons is that the court needs more information about you from the youth justice service before deciding the length of the sentence in this case."
He added that the defendant would be sentenced by Mr Justice Choudhury on February 10 and would be brought from youth detention accommodation to Birmingham to speak with his lawyers before the hearing. The teenager, who showed no emotion during the proceedings while wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark T-shirt, was remanded in youth detention accommodation in the meantime.
