Boy, 15, facing jail for killing Dea-John Reid outside Kingstanding McDonald’s

A 15-year-old boy is facing jail after being convicted of killing a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death outside a McDonald’s in a "revenge attack."

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murdering Dea-John Reid yesterday (Wednesday, March 30).

A court heard the schoolboy was chased near a park in Kingstanding before being knifed in his chest.

Dea-John collapsed in the road and was pronounced dead a short time later despite the efforts of emergency crews who rushed to the scene on May 31 last year.

Michael Shields, 36, George Khan, 39, and a two other youths were all cleared of murder while Hollie Davies, 36, was found not guilty of assisting an offender.

There was a huge outpouring of grief following Dea-John’s death with a vigil held in his memory on College Road in Kingstanding in June last year.

Birmingham Crown Court heard the schoolboy was chased from a park in retaliation for one of the defendants being mugged for his bag.

Prosecutor Richard Wormald QC said a gang had been hunting him down "like a pack chasing down their prey" in a "plan to seek retribution".

He said Dea-John was unarmed and died from a single stab wound to the heart in a fatal blow inflicted by the 15-year-old.

Dea-John lifted up his t-shirt, shuddered and collapsed before his attacker fled "simply leaving him behind to die", jurors were told.

The youth, who claimed he had acted in self defence, will be sentenced on May 5.

What have West Midlands Police said about the case?

A press officer for the force said the killer, who armed himself with a knife and was driven around the Kingstanding area , tracked Dea-John down and stabbed him once in the chest on College Road on the evening of 31 May last year.

He died at the scene.

While the killer was being driven around the area, a racial slur was shouted at Dea-John’s group from the car.

The killing was treated as racially aggravated and happened in retribution for the earlier robbery attempt.

CCTV was recovered and five people arrested and charged with murder. A sixth person was accused of assisting an offender.

What has the investigating officer said about the case?

Det Supt Shaun Edwards, head of our Homicide department, said: “Dea-John’s death was senseless and tragic. We recognise the impact the untimely death of a young person has on their loved ones and the wider community.

“We understand the sense of community feeling around Dea-John’s killing.

“The violence and hatred in this tragic case was completely unacceptable and has irreversibly damaged the lives of many people.

“Collectively, we can and must do more - particularly with our younger people - to stop this devastation within in communities.

“We gathered 3,100 hours of CCTV to build a really strong case against Dea-John’s killer, and I’d also like to thank all the witnesses who came forward to tell us what they’d seen.

“I’d also like to thank the people who stopped at the scene to give first aid to Dea-John.

“Our thoughts remain with Dea-John’s family.”

What has Dea-John Reid’s family said about their tragic loss?

Following the verdict Dea-John’s family said: "Dea-John was a well-loved son and brother. We will not let what happened to him define what he meant to us."

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