Two teenagers have been convicted over the death of Muhammad Hassam Ali, who was brutally attacked in Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre. The 17-year-old was enjoying a hot chocolate with a friend on a winter’s day in Birmingham when he was stabbed to death on January 20.
But the couple were unaware that two 15-year-old boys had followed them and were preparing to confront them. Today, the two boys were found guilty of the senseless murder after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
A 15-year-old boy, whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, was convicted of murder and possession of a knife. The other was convicted of manslaughter and possession of a sharp object. While only one of them stabbed Ali, the second was convicted of abetting the other.
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They will be tried in October. Muhammad and his friend had agreed to meet in the city centre at around 2.30pm. They met at the Little Dessert shop on the Bullring before heading to Victoria Square, where they sat next to Floozie in the hot tub.
They were confronted by the two boys, who demanded to know where they were from and whether they were responsible for a previous attack on one of their friends. They were not.
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They continued to question Muhammad and his friend, before Muhammad told them to go away because he did not understand what they were talking about. That is when one of the teenagers took out a large knife and stabbed him in the chest before running away.
Muhammad was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, but the damage to his heart was too severe and he was pronounced dead at around 6.40pm.
West Midlands Police identified and tracked the boys through CCTV. They were arrested on January 23.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, who led the investigation, said: “Sadly this is another case of young men carrying a knife and being prepared to use it with catastrophic consequences. Muhammad had simply been enjoying a day out with a friend.”
“There is no evidence he knew any of the boys who killed him, and there is no evidence he was involved in any previous attacks. This appalling violence that is causing so much grief to families must stop. We are working tirelessly to tackle knife crime, catch those carrying blades and help educate those who could be drawn into this lifestyle.”
“But we need help. We need the help of parents, guardians, teachers, everyone who cares for young people. I urge them to share Muhammad’s story with the young people in their lives and really think about the devastating impact this has had on everyone involved.”
