Footballer's killer jailed after two-year manhunt

Sekou Doucoure was stabbed by Ishmael Farquharson during a fight in Birmingham in July 2022, before the killer fled the UK for more than two years

A man who fled the UK after killing a promising teenage footballer has been jailed following a two-and-a-half-year international manhunt.

Victim Sekou Doucoure, 16, died in Birmingham, in 2022, and was a former player for Nottingham Forest FC, described by his mother as "hardworking, kind and respectful".

His killer Ishmael Farquharson, 34, fled the UK after killing Sekou, but was tracked down by police to Spain, where he was arrested last January and extradited back to the UK for trial.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Farquharson was jailed for 22 years for the manslaughter of Sekou, who died during a confrontation between rival gangs on Nursery Road in the city, on 12 July 2022.

The defendant, of Portchester Drive, Birmingham was convicted of manslaughter last Friday, after initially being charged with murder.

In March 2023, Pierre Thomas and a youth who cannot be named for legal reasons were also convicted of manslaughter and sentenced for their roles in Sekou's death.

Sekou died at the scene of the confrontation between the gangs, with Farquharson, Thomas and the youth all involved.

Ishmael Farquharson was found guilty of manslaughter

The court heard Thomas had fired a blank-firing handgun twice at Sekou, who initially fled. The three then searched for him.

When Farquharson found the teenager a fight broke out during which he stabbed Sekou in the chest.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Douglas Marshall said Sekou's death was a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime.

"This case demonstrates that no matter how much time passes or how far suspects flee, the Crown Prosecution Service will work with partners to bring offenders to justice," he said.

"Farquharson may have thought distance and time would protect him, but this case shows that offenders cannot escape justice by fleeing abroad."