Zechariah Nelson jailed for teen’s death in Birmingham after dispute over mobile phone

A teenager has been jailed for killing a boy who was stabbed to death following a dispute about a mobile phone.

Zechariah Nelson was found guilty of manslaughter after 17-year-old Akeem Bailey sustained a fatal knife wound to the neck in Ladywood. He also stabbed another teenager near Springfield Street on 30 October last year.

Thankfully his injuries were not serious.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court was told that Nelson took a knife to an arranged meeting and it was during this meeting that the knife was used to cause the injuries.

The 18-year-old, of no fixed address, was found guilty of manslaughter and wounding.

What has West Midlands Police said about the case?

Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, from the police homicide unit, said: “This is another tragic loss of a young life at the hands of a knife. “By just carrying a weapon you are putting yourself in a position where it can be used in the spur of the moment and destroy lives. A teenager has lost his life and another has lost his freedom.”