Responsible Child, the Emmy Award-winning film originally airing on the BBC, is now streaming on Netflix. The drama stars Billy Barratt as Ray, a 12-year-old boy who, along with his 23-year-old brother Nathan (James Tarpey), stands trial for murder after a fatal stabbing. Because the age of criminal responsibility in the UK is 10, Ray must face an adult court.
The true story behind the film
Ray is based on Jerome Ellis, who was 14 years old when he and his brother Joshua stabbed their mother's partner, Neil Tulley, to death in 2014. The attack took place in Surrey, and Tulley was stabbed more than 60 times while lying on a sofa.
Joshua told police that the brothers were frightened of what Tulley might do and could no longer endure the abuse they had suffered at his hands. The judge in the case noted that Jerome had been neglected and raised in an abusive environment.
The trial and sentences
Both brothers denied murder but admitted manslaughter at Guildford Crown Court. Joshua was convicted of murder, while Jerome was found guilty of manslaughter due to loss of control. Jerome received a six-year detention sentence, and Joshua was ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years in prison.
Where are they now?
Almost 12 years after the incident, Jerome is now in his mid-twenties and has completed his sentence. He has been given a new identity and lives away from public scrutiny; his current whereabouts are not publicly known. His brother Joshua remains in prison, serving his life sentence.
