Sekou Doucoure: two teenagers convicted of schoolboy's killing

Two teenagers have been convicted of killing a 16-year-old schoolboy who was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Birmingham.

Sekou Doucoure was discovered seriously injured on 12 July last year on the forecourt of an Esso garage on Nursery Road, Hockley.

Despite the best efforts of police officers and paramedics, nothing could be done to save him.

The court heard how before Sekou was stabbed, he had been confronted and shot at in the street by someone affiliated with a rival gang.

Pierre Thomas, aged 18, from Birmingham, and a 16-year-old who cannot be named, denied charges of murder, manslaughter and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

A jury has today cleared them of murder, but convicted them both of manslaughter and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Detective Inspector Laura Harrison from West Midlands Police has been leading the case. She said: "A team of officers have worked really hard to look at CCTV and understand what role each person played. That has culminated in a criminal trial for two defendants.

"The investigation is still ongoing, because Ishmael Farquharson is still wanted by the police and is actively being sought for arrest on suspicion of the murder of Sekou.

"Sekou's murder had a real impact on the community at the time. There was a lot of tension, a lot of concern by young people in the community, and it did play out with further episodes of violence. People were really devastated by his death.

"He was a 16-year-old boy who had his whole life ahead of him, he was really into his football and his family and the community were really impacted by his death."

"Every case has lessons to learn and I think that it's really important that police work with partners to engage with that community contact and try to divert people away and send out that really important message that its not ok to carry a knife. And if people do, there are really serious consequences, people losing their life or being really seriously hurt."

Today Sekou’s family said: “Sekou was a 16-year-old boy who loved his family and loved football. He gave a different perspective on life and inspired people around him to be the best they can be and to follow whatever religion they wanted.

“He was quite talented in many regards when it came to his academics and especially when it came to sports and football. Despite his shortcomings everybody that was close to him can vouch for the fact that he would help anyone that was around him despite the severity of the problem and the extent to which it could affect him negatively. Words cannot truly express what kind of person he was.

“He was a good boy and son who would do anything for anyone. He is sorely missed by all the family particularly his sisters, brother and Mom.”

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