Kearsley boy who stabbed young man to death in Bury guilty of murder

Abdikarim Abdalla Ahmed was just 18-years-old when he was fatally stabbed by the 17-year-old Kearsley boy with a combat knife after an altercation on Market Street, Bury, on March 22 this year.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, quietly put his head in his hands as the guilty verdict was read out to him on Friday morning following a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Addressing the jury of eight women and four men before their deliberations, Judge Patrick Field said: “What were are dealing with here are allegations concerning the murder of a very young man.

Abdikarim Abdalla Ahmed, known to friends as Abdi, was just 18-years-old when he died

“Cases like these are capable of stirring or may have already stirred strong emotions, it is essential that you put your feelings aside.”

Over the course of the trial, the court heard how Abdikarim Abdalla Ahmed, aged 18, was stabbed with a combat knife outside Millgate Shopping Centre on March 22

The jury heard how Abdikarim, known to friends as Abdi, had ‘sought revenge’ after he was allegedly punched in the face at The Rock shopping centre earlier that day by a youth who was among a group of young men which included the defendant.

Abdikarim and his brother Faisal then confronted the boy on Market Street and Abdikarim was stabbed by the defendant after throwing a punch.

He was taken to hospital where he died that same day and the court played footage of a visibly distraught Faisal explaining to police how deeply traumatising this was.

He said: “My brother went, 'I got stabbed, I got stabbed', he knew blood was dripping.”

Floral tributes left to Abdikarim Abdalla Ahmed

CCTV footage and testimony from Faisal Ahmed both showed that the defendant had carried out the stabbing.

During the trial the defendant, who was 16 at the time of the incident, admitted carrying a knife but claimed that he was acting in self-defence, in the heat of the moment.

• Teen accused of stabbing young man to death says he was 'acting in self defence'
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Bernard Richmond, defending, said: “We are talking about something that happened to a 16-year-old boy who educationally had not flourished and who had to make an immediate decision.”

But the Alaric Bassano, prosecuting argued that the fact that the boy had lied when claiming not to have had a knife and lied that he thought Abdikarim had been armed demonstrated his intent.

The boy was convicted of murder following nearly three days of deliberations by the jury.

He will appear again before the court to be sentenced at a later date.