Smethwick teenager who carried out brutal knife attack is jailed for murder

A 19-year-old who brutally stabbed another teenager he had chased into a shop in Smethwick town centre, has been jailed for murder.

Cam’Ron Dunn attacked Derlano Samuels in Cape Hill at around 4.10pm on 1 May last year, stabbing him twice in the street before the 17-year-old tried to take refuge in a storeroom.

But Dunn followed him inside the shop and stabbed him again numerous times.

Dunn, of Sketchley Close, Smethwick, denied murder but was convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court, after jurors took just 90 minutes to return their guilty verdict.

On Monday (11 July), Dunn was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 20 years. He was also jailed for possession of a bladed article (12 months), wounding with intent (45 months), assaulting an emergency worker (six months) and possession of cannabis (to lie on file) – all to run concurrently.

Family tribute

After Dunn’s conviction in March Derlano’s family issued a statement, speaking of their loss and also the need for youngsters to think twice before they decide to carry a knife.

They said: “Derlano was a happy, positive, thoughtful and kind-hearted person. His life was taken from him before his 18th birthday in a senseless act at the hands of another. He will be forever missed by his family and those who knew and loved him.

“The youth of today think carrying knives will protect them, but in fact you are putting your life in the hands of the law. Knife crime is a pandemic in the UK, the impact ripples through families and communities and cannot be underestimated.”

Their words are echoed by Detective Inspective Hannah Whitehouse from Force CID, who headed up the investigation.

She said: “The brutality of this attack was just horrifying and as a result, yet another family has been left grieving for a much-loved teenager.

“Our thoughts remain with them and we hope this jail sentence can bring them some comfort.

“But this tragic killing is again a reminder of the dangers of carrying knives and the awful impact that doing so can have.

“Two families have had their futures re-written - one now left forever without a loved one, and a second facing the reality of their teenager spending years behind bars.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.