Manchester youth who ‘fatally struck’ Kennie Carter jailed for 16 years | Knife crime

Four teenagers have been convicted of killing a 16-year-old boy in revenge in a fatal attack where a single stab wound “pierced his heart”.

Kennie Carter died after being stabbed in the chest in Stretford, Greater Manchester, on the evening of January 22, 2022.

Manchester Crown Court heard how the group of youths acted in revenge for an incident the day before the murder.

A 16-year-old boy, who was 14 at the time of the murder, was sentenced by Judge Goose on Friday to detention in a young offenders institution with a minimum term of 16 years and 60 days after being convicted of murder last month.

The young man, whose identity cannot be revealed due to his age, admitted delivering the fatal blow with a “long knife” which “pierced” Kennie’s heart, but said it was an act of self-defence.

Latif Ferguson, of Old Trafford, who is now 18 but was 15 at the time, was sentenced to five years in a young offenders’ institution, and two other 16-year-olds were sentenced to four years in custody after being convicted of manslaughter for “encouraging” the attack.

The jury found six others, aged 15 to 19, not guilty of manslaughter and murder.

Evidence presented by the prosecution showed that the murder was carried out in revenge for an incident the day before Kennie’s murder in which “metal poles” were brandished.

On January 22, the four convicted teenagers stole bicycles from a building and were heard shouting: “This is revenge.”

After Kennie was killed, one of the youths was filmed on CCTV “showing and demonstrating his knife action” to others.

Addressing the defendants, the judge said: “The stabbing took place because of a perceived grievance between Kennie Carter and his associates and with the four of you.

“You intended to harm Kennie Carter.”

The judge told the young murderer: “Part of what may have driven you to commit this offence may have been your need to appear strong and loyal to your associates who have been disrespected.

“I’m sure the knife used to stab Kennie Carter was your knife, the one you took with you to get revenge.”