The devastated father of murdered 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross has voiced his profound anger towards his son's killer, demanding that the teenage murderer should never be released from prison. The 15-year-old offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years for fatally stabbing Leo as the child walked home from school in Yardley Wood, Birmingham.
A Father's Heartbreak and Outrage
In an exclusive interview, Leo's heartbroken father Chris, 39, expressed his disbelief at the sentencing. "He should be in jail for life," Chris stated emphatically. "He has shown no remorse, but could be out in his 20s. How is that justice? That ain't justice. If you kill someone you should do life yourself. I think that's fair."
The killer, who had been expelled from full-time education, was unknown to Leo, described by police as a model student with an impeccable behavioural record. Chilling footage captured the teenager cycling around the area as Leo made his way home on January 21 last year.
A Random and Brutal Attack
The attack was described by detectives as "completely random and unprovoked," with the killer reportedly "hunting" for a victim. Police believe the 14-year-old at the time singled out Leo because he was physically larger and represented an easy target walking alone.
Chris described the horrifying disrespect shown by the killer during court proceedings. "At the first hearing he came up out of the dock. I looked him in the eyes through the glass and he just started laughing. It was just total disrespect," Chris recalled. "At the next hearing he was on the videolink from jail fist-bumping all the screws, laughing and joking."
Remembering a Gentle Soul
Leo, who was living in foster care at the time of his murder, was remembered by his father as a kind and gentle boy with no malice in his heart. "Leo was nothing like me. He didn't have a bad bone in his body," Chris said. "He was such a kind little boy. He was just so gentle and timid. He was a shy kid."
Unlike his father, who had suggested boxing lessons, Leo preferred examining fossils, crystals, and gems through his microscope. He loved nature, playing on his PS5, and was described as always happy and loving towards everyone.
Community Mourning and Tributes
The community rallied around Leo's memory, with hundreds attending his funeral in March last year. His school, Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy, closed for the day to allow staff and students to pay their respects to the "lovely and bright" pupil. Thousands of Birmingham City FC fans, the team Leo supported and had been a mascot for, paid tribute during the 12th minute of a match.
Chris admitted the overwhelming support was both heartbreaking and comforting, but he carries immense guilt that Leo was in foster care when attacked. "I wish I'd never messed up because if I hadn't I would have been there to walk him home from school and it would never have happened," he confessed through tears. "The guilt I feel now that I wasn't there to be able to protect him is horrible."
A Pattern of Violence
Leo's murder was revealed to be the fourth attack by the same teenager in Trittiford Mill Park over just three days. Earlier on January 21, the killer had attempted to attack a woman alone in the park but was interrupted. The previous days saw him beat an elderly woman with her own walking stick and push her into the River Cole, followed by another serious attack on a lone female walker.
Despite his violent history in the neighbourhood, the killer attempted to present himself as a hero at the crime scene, falsely claiming to police that he had found Leo injured and called for help. Detectives believe he lingered at the scene to watch the "chaos of his actions unfold."
Justice and Accountability
The killer was finally arrested hours after the murder when he taunted police about finding evidence. Officers discovered clothing stained with Leo's blood at his home and recovered the murder weapon from the river, with both his and Leo's DNA present.
Chris expressed gratitude for the police work but believes authorities should have intervened earlier. "He beat up an elderly woman with her own walking stick in the days before and still didn't get caught," he said. "He should have been dealt with by the police before he got to Leo. It could have been prevented."
Moving Forward Through Advocacy
The attacker pleaded guilty to Leo's murder last month at Birmingham Crown Court, along with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against three elderly victims. He also admitted possessing a bladed article on the day he killed Leo.
Chris, who has turned to anti-knife crime campaigning since his son's death, read a moving personal impact statement in court, telling the killer he is living a life sentence without his "special little boy." Supported by his partner Emily Sheridan and fellow campaigners including Caroline Willgoose and Courtney Barrett, Chris is now determined to prevent similar tragedies.
"I now want to spread awareness about knife crime and how it's affecting kids," he declared. "We've got £10,000 worth of bleed kits for schools around Coventry and we want to get boxes with them fitted on walls in the city. I don't want anyone else to go through the nightmare that we have."
Mr Justice Choudhury KC today accepted an application to lift the anonymity order protecting the killer's identity due to his age, though his name won't be made public for 24 hours after sentencing. Chris supported this decision, stating: "I wanted him to be named. He's in for murdering a little innocent boy and I want people to know that."
