Teenager jailed for life after brutal murder of 12-year-old schoolboy
A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years for the murder of 12-year-old Leo Ross in Birmingham. The court heard shocking details of how the youth had carried out a series of violent attacks on elderly women in the days leading up to the fatal stabbing.
Previous attacks on elderly victims revealed
The sentencing hearing at Birmingham Crown Court was told that just two days before murdering Leo, the teenager attempted to drown 82-year-old Valerie Mann in Trittiford Mill Park. Mrs Mann, who is now 83, recalled how her attacker pushed her into the River Cole before striking her repeatedly with her own walking stick.
"I've tried to drown you, but now I'm going to kill you instead," the youth told Mrs Mann during the assault. She suffered multiple injuries including a broken nose, black eyes, fractured ribs, and finger fractures requiring surgical pins.
Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC detailed how the youth attacked two other elderly women in the days before Leo's murder. On January 20 last year, he assaulted 72-year-old Christine Canty, causing a collapsed lung, head injuries, and fractures to her ribs and thigh bone. The following day, just 30 minutes before killing Leo, he pushed 72-year-old Diane Copplestone to the ground.
Model student targeted in "completely random" attack
Leo Ross, described by police as a model student with an unblemished behavioural record, was walking home alone from Christ Church Church of England Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood on January 21 last year when he was attacked. The killer, who was not known to Leo, stabbed him in the stomach with a kitchen knife in what detectives described as a "completely random and unprovoked" assault.
Police believe the youth, who was 14 at the time of the attacks, singled out Leo and the elderly women because they represented "easy targets" while alone. CCTV footage showed him cycling around the area "hunting" for victims before the murder.
Heartbreaking victim impact statements
Leo's father, Chris Ross, 39, bravely read a moving victim impact statement to the court, addressing his son's killer directly. "You killed my son, Leo Ross. Your horrendous act has destroyed me," he said. "I will never be the same again after telling Lily that her big brother would never be home again."
Mr Ross described how his life had become "a living Hell" since the murder, with sleepless nights, nightmares, and endless tears. "Leo would have never hurt a soul," he added. "He always had a positive effect on everybody around him."
In a statement read on behalf of Leo's mother, Rachel Fisher, she said: "My son Leo was the sweetest, most kind-hearted boy. He didn't have a bad bone in his body. My baby's life was stolen for no reason whatsoever."
Attempt to cover up the crime
After stabbing Leo, the teenager threw the knife into a nearby river before pretending to be a helpful bystander who had discovered the injured boy. Bodycam footage showed him telling police officers: "I seen him and I seen this woman - she was walking down so I told her to call you guys."
He later admitted to murdering Leo at a previous hearing last month, along with two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to the attacks on the elderly women.
Judge condemns "savagery" of attacks
Mr Justice Choudhury KC described the attack on Valerie Mann as involving "savagery" that was hard to understand. He noted that while the youth had apologized to Christine Canty after attacking her, this did not appear genuine as he made no attempt to help her.
Jonathan Roe, senior crown prosecutor, said: "This was a senseless act of violence that has devastated a family and robbed a 12-year-old boy of his life. Leo Ross should have had his whole future ahead of him, and he should have been able to walk home from school without harm."
The court heard that Leo was in foster care at the time of his murder. His foster family, the Westons, described him as "the sweetest, kindest boy who put others before himself" and said he was "loved by all that knew him."
Detectives believe the killer, who had previously been excluded from full-time education, loitered at the scene of his attacks because he enjoyed watching the "chaos of his actions unfold." The case has highlighted the devastating consequences of youth violence and knife crime in communities across the country.
