Irfan Wahid stabbing: Boy detained for 10 years

Irfan Wahid died as a result of a single stab wound to the chest

A teenager who stabbed a boy to death in a fight over a girl has been detained for 10 years.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, stabbed 16-year-old Irfan Wahid in the chest in Leeds on 10 February.

He was cleared of murder at Leeds Crown Court in August but convicted of manslaughter.

The teenager had told his trial he had not intended to kill Irfan and had merely been defending himself.

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During the trial it emerged the defendant had briefly dated a 16-year-old girl in 2016 who had also spent time with Irfan in the days before he was killed.

The defendant said Irfan had punched him to the ground after seeing him chatting with the girl on Harehills Lane in Leeds.

He claimed he had swung a knife he carried in his bag to defend himself and said he did not realise he had stabbed Irfan until he saw blood on the knife.

Det Supt Pat Twiggs, of West Yorkshire Police, said he hoped the case would remind people that it is not acceptable to carry a knife.

"This is a tragic case which has left two families devastated," he said.

"A simple disagreement over a trivial matter led to Irfan's death and what we must all now do is ensure his death was not in vain.

"We need the community to reject the idea that it is OK to carry a knife.

"It could be your son or your daughter either being killed or seriously wounded or starting a long prison sentence because of a minor argument."