Khayri Mclean: Teenager guilty of murdering 15-year-old schoolboy

Khayri Mclean died after he was stabbed near North Huddersfield Trust School in September 2022

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death as he walked home from school in West Yorkshire.

Khayri Mclean was stabbed twice after being ambushed by the teen and another boy outside North Huddersfield Trust School on 21 September.

The 17-year-old was found guilty of murder after a trial at Leeds Crown Court. His 15-year-old accomplice had previously admitted murder.

They will be sentenced at a later date.

The boy showed no emotion as the jury of eight women and four men returned a unanimous guilty verdict after nearly five hours of deliberation.

In a statement, Andrew Fell, headteacher at North Huddersfield Trust School, said the trial and conviction had "brought back the shock and distress felt by all members of the school community at the time the attack happened".

He said Khayri would be "remembered fondly by all those who knew him" and his thoughts were with his family.

• 'Every time they go out all you do is worry'

Andrew Fell, headteacher at North Huddersfield Trust School, said Khayri would be "remembered fondly"

During the week-long trial, the court heard the two boys, who cannot be named due to their age, had been lying in wait for Khayri in an alleyway before launching their fatal attack.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said the younger of the two shouted "Oi Khayri" or "Yo Khayri" before jumping in the air, swinging a knife with a 30cm blade and stabbing Khayri in the chest.

This proved to be the fatal blow as it went through his ribs and penetrated one of his lungs and heart, jurors heard.

Mr Sandiford said Khayri fell to the floor and was "defenceless on his back" when the 17-year-old, who was 16 at the time, went after him, knife in hand, and stabbed him in the leg.

Khayri was taken to hospital but died later the same day.

Analysis by Emma Glasbey, Home and Social Affairs Correspondent, BBC Yorkshire

This was a killing that caused revulsion in Huddersfield, leaving schoolchildren traumatised and parents fearful. How could a 15-year-old boy be murdered on his way home from school on a Wednesday afternoon?

During a seven-day trial, the evidence was devastating for Khayri's family and friends to listen to and watch.

CCTV cameras captured the killing, which was over in a few seconds before the killers were seen running away across school fields.

Khayri was seen being helped to his feet by a friend and trying to run away before collapsing further down the road.

Today the spot where he fell on Woodhouse Hill remains covered in balloons, flowers and school ties. A constant reminder of the unthinkable tragedy that took place.

Those who loved Khayri have seen justice today after a harrowing court ordeal, but a child has died in the most horrifying way.

In Huddersfield they will keep asking the questions, 'why are children carrying knives? why are children being stabbed in the street?'.

The two teenagers will be sentenced at a later date

The 17-year-old denied targeting the teenager and claimed he had gone to the scene outside school for a "fist fight" with another youth.

But prosecutors said while he did not inflict the fatal blow he was guilty of murder because he acted with his co-accused and they "encouraged and supported each other to carry out the attack".

Jurors were told the two defendants were dressed in black clothes with black balaclavas and their eyes covered, possibly by sunglasses.

After attacking Khayri, they ran away together back down the footpath from which they emerged, before stopping to remove their balaclavas and the clothing worn for the attack.

The judge, Mrs Justice Farbey, told the defendant there would be a hearing on Thursday to discuss the next steps in the case but sentencing would take place on a date to be fixed.

Det Supt Marc Bowes, who led the investigation, said he welcomed the verdict.

He added: "Our thoughts are with Khayri's relatives as they process the news from today and we continue to support them."

Policing Minister Chris Philp said: "Every life lost to knife crime is one too many. Our thoughts are with Khayri's loved ones.

"We continue to take a hard stance against those who carry knives, removing 90,000 knives and offensive weapons since 2019 from our streets through stop and search, surrender initiatives and other targeted police action.

"We have also invested £16m since 2019 into the development of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit, alongside a further £10.6m to fund additional, targeted West Yorkshire Police patrols in the areas worst affected by serious violence."