Britain's youngest knife murderer has stabbed a stranger in a “horrifying” machete murder

Two boys believed to be Britain's youngest knife murderers who stabbed a stranger in a “terrible and shocking” machete murder have each been given life sentences.

The killers, both 12 at the time of the incident but now 13, were found guilty in June of killing the 19-year-old in a random and “senseless” attack at Stowlawn playing fields in Wolverhampton on November 13 last year Having stabbed Shawn Seesahai in the heart year.

The boys, who cannot be named due to a court anonymity order, are believed to be the youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both 11, were found guilty of killing two-year-old James in 1993 having killed Bulger.

Judge Tipples sentenced the pair, both from Wolverhampton, to life imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years and six months after a two-day hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

In handing down the sentence, the Supreme Court judge told the defendants: “What you both have done is terrible and shocking.”

“You didn’t know Shawn, he was a stranger to you. They were both in Wolverhampton with a machete. The two of you killed Shawn in an attack that lasted less than a minute as he demanded you get up from a bench… Based on the injuries Shawn sustained, I'm sure you intended to kill him .

“Shawn didn't deserve to be attacked, Shawn didn't deserve to die.”

She also told the couple that they had caused “infinite grief” to Mr Seesahai's relatives, describing the 19-year-old as “a young man who is loved by his family and whose future lies ahead of him”. She added: “His mother described him as a brave soul who was generous and compassionate.”

Mr Seesahai's family told the court on Thursday they were haunted by the fear he must have felt when he was killed.

In a victim impact statement read by Anguilla's international representative, Dorothea Hodge, relatives described the murder of the Anguilla-born teenager as tragic, unexpected and senseless and committed “without any reason.”

A month-long trial reported that Mr Seesahai was shoved on the shoulder by the smaller of the two defendants, who “frequently” carried a machete with a 42.5cm blade, before being punched, kicked, stomped and “chopped”. was with the gun.

The victim's friend told the court he was forced to run for his life, but the 19-year-old stumbled as he tried to escape from the boys.

The defendants inflicted a 23 cm deep wound on Mr Seesahai, which extended almost to his entire body. The victim also suffered a fractured skull after the attack.

Family members of Mr Seesahai and the defendants cried and hugged each other as jurors found both boys guilty of murder and one of possession of a bladed article after the other admitted possession of the knife before the trial.

The pair accused each other of inflicting four wounds with the machete after an argument with the victim over sitting on a park bench.

On Friday, both teenagers were allowed to leave the dock and sit in the back row of the court benches as Judge Tipples began her sentencing by acknowledging that the verdict would be of no comfort to the victim's family.

She also told the defendants: “You will both have to live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your lives.”

She said she couldn't be sure who caused the fatal wound but that it didn't matter and told the couple: “You acted together to kill him and you are both responsible for his death.”

In an interview published after the verdicts, Mr. Seesahai's parents, Suresh and Maneshwary, said they would never get over the loss of their son, who had always told them he would “shine” and care for them.

A senior West Midlands police officer said Mr Seesahai's murder was both “shocking and sad” and told of the “devastating” impact of knife crime.

Chief Superintendent Kim Madill said after sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court: “Shawn was only 19 years old when his life was taken by two boys, then only 12 years old, who had armed themselves with a machete.

“This reality has had a huge impact on all of us, it is both shocking and sad. The impact of knife crime is devastating no matter where you live in the country. This is a problem that affects us all.

“A lot of work has been done and we have achieved success in some areas, but it is clearly not enough.

“We are listening to families affected by knife crime and responding to their feedback to see what more we can do with partners to stop the devastation caused by knife crime.

“Our responsibility is to work with partners to understand why children and young people think it is OK to carry weapons and to take further action to stop this extremely dangerous behavior.”

Crown Prosecution Service spokesman Jonathan Roe said: “As prosecutors we often deal with harrowing cases, but this case is particularly disturbing due to the utter senselessness and devastating consequences of the defendants' actions.”

“The defendants, aged 12, should have enjoyed their childhood instead of arming themselves with a machete and killing an innocent person.

“Shawn Seesahai lost his life in a terribly cruel way.

“I hope today’s sentencing reminds us of the dangers of carrying machetes.

“Shawn’s family has shown remarkable strength and dignity after such a tragedy and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”