Kelly Brown, the mother of 16-year-old Rhamero West, has spoken of her unending grief after four men were convicted of his murder following two trials. Speaking at Manchester Crown Court on July 2, she described her son's killing as a 'bad nightmare' and said she is 'the one serving the life sentence'.
Rhamero's murder and the trials
Rhamero West was stabbed to death on September 9, 2021, on Princess Parkway in Manchester. He had been due to start a college course that day. A car chase and foot pursuit ended when he was caught and fatally stabbed. Three men were convicted of murder in 2022: Ryan Cashin, now 23, of Nancy Street; Marquis Richards, now 21, of Anne Nuttall Road; and Giovanni Lawrence, now 24, of Colgrove Avenue. Lawrence's conviction was later overturned on appeal, leading to a second trial.
In the second trial, Lawrence and Shikeo Bell, now 22, were convicted of murder. Bell, who was 17 at the time of the killing, had been charged after the first trial. The court heard that Richards pursued Rhamero with a knife, Cashin took the weapon and stabbed him fatally, Lawrence drove a pursuing car, and Bell joined the foot chase.
Mother's victim impact statement
In court, Kelly Brown said: 'He had his whole life ahead of him, with so many goals. We feel like this is a bad nightmare and that we will wake up from this. But sadly this is not the case.' She described struggling 'emotionally and physically' and being prescribed sleeping tablets. Addressing the killers, she said: 'You will serve the time and justice will prevail, however during this time you know that you will still be able to have contact with your family, you will still be able to come back and be released into society. Your families will not suffer the way I have.'
She added: 'There's not a single day we get through without breaking down or crying. Losing a child is a different kind of grief. It feels like part of your heart is missing. A large part of me died the day they took my son's life. I am the one serving the life sentence.' She noted she had seen 'no remorse from any of the defendants whatsoever'.
Sentences handed down
At the sentencing hearing on July 2, Lawrence was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years and 195 days (reduced from 20 years for time served on remand). Bell, as a minor at the time, was detained at His Majesty's Pleasure for a minimum of 18 years. In 2022, Cashin received a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years and 142 days, and Richards a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years and 113 days.
Police tribute
Detective Inspector Paul Davies of Greater Manchester Police said: 'Bell and Lawrence were part of a vicious group attack which saw Rhamero West pursued and chased down in what would have been a terrifying few minutes before his death. Today's result means four people have now been convicted of Rhamero's murder.' He praised Kelly Brown's 'incredible resilience, courage and strength' and thanked his team for their work.
After the hearing, Kelly Brown said: 'I am really happy with the outcome - justice has been served. Thank you to the amazing team behind me for all their hard work. Now my baby boy can rest in eternal peace and we as a family can begin the healing process.'
