Boy, 15, pleads guilty to murder of Leo Ross, 12, in Birmingham | Birmingham
A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering Birmingham boy Leo Ross, 12, by stabbing him in the stomach during a random attack in a parking lot.
Leo died after being taken to hospital from a riverside path in Shire Country Park, Hall Green, Birmingham, on January 21 last year.
Leo, described as an “amazing, kind, loving” child in a family statement published shortly after his death, was walking home from the Church of England secondary academy, Christ Church, in Yardley Wood, when he was stabbed.
The attacker, who was 14 at the time and is now 15, also admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to previous attacks on separate victims, as well as having a bladed article on him on the day he killed Leo.
He denied assault causing actual bodily harm and assault by beating on two other people, and it was decided that these charges would be included in the file.
Police investigations revealed that the knife used to kill Leo had been thrown into a nearby river, and that the bike-riding boy responsible had previously grabbed and attacked several women in the local parkland.
An investigation by West Midlands police also revealed that the killer, who cannot be identified due to his age, chose to wait to speak to officers at the scene of the murder, claiming he had come across Leo lying mortally wounded next to the River Cole.
It emerged that Leo had no connection to the attacker and was killed in what senior officers believed was a random and unprovoked stabbing. The defendant’s guilty plea was filed more than six months after his trial was postponed to allow psychiatric experts to evaluate him.
Judge Farrer KC said sentencing will take place on February 10 and is likely to last all day.
He told the defendant: “For many reasons I cannot sentence you today. You will be sentenced on 10 February and will be brought from where you are being held to Birmingham where you can speak to your lawyers. In the meantime you will remain in youth detention.”
Speaking after the hearing, Jonathan Roe of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This was a senseless act of violence that devastated a family and robbed a 12-year-old boy of his life.
“The defendant’s guilty plea today means Leo’s loved ones have at least been spared the ordeal of a trial. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss.”
In a statement released through West Midlands police, Leo’s foster family said: “Not a day goes by that we don’t think of Leo. His loss has touched us deeply and his absence is constantly felt.”
“Leo was the sweetest, kindest boy who put others before himself. He was loved by everyone who knew him, making friends with everyone he met, young or old. He was wise beyond his years, full of knowledge and facts, full of life. A life cut short by a senseless act.”
“We hope that justice will be served and that we can come to some conclusion. Whatever the outcome, it still doesn’t give Leo back his life, the life he truly deserves to live to the fullest.”
Leo’s birth mother, Rachel Fisher, added: “My son Leo was the sweetest, most kind-hearted boy in the world. He didn’t have a single bruise on his body. My baby’s life was stolen for no reason.”
“My life will never be the same without her. She will be loved and missed forever.”
