Harley Brown murder: Court scuffles as teens sentenced for killing boy

Harley Brown died shortly after he was found with stab injuries on King's Mill Lane in Huddersfield

Scuffles broke out in court when two teenagers were jailed for the killing of a 17-year-old boy in a "sustained and brutal" knife attack.

Supporters of Harley Brown, who was murdered in Huddersfield on 20 February, clashed with those there for the two boys, who admitted the killing.

The pair, now 15 and 17, were jailed for just over 10 years and 14 years respectively at Leeds Crown Court.

The judge described Harley's killing as a "senseless atrocity".

When the younger boy was sentenced to life with a minimum of 10 years and three months in detention, one person walked out, declaring the tariff "a joke".

That precipitated groups facing off, exchanging threats and shouts in the court room.

A number of people were held back by groups on both sides as police intervened to restore calm.

The court had heard how the pair who were "under the influence of nitrous oxide" had chased Harley along Kings Mill Lane in Huddersfield in the early hours.

The boys, who cannot be named because of their age, were 14 and 16 at the time of the murder.

They had been due to stand trial after pleading not guilty, but last month they changed their pleas to guilty.

The judge said both defendants "share equal responsibility"

Speaking after his death, Harley's family said he would be remembered for his "loving personality, beautiful smile and cheeky sense of humour".

Harley had moved to Huddersfield from Deptford, London, in 2020 for a "safe" new life after his mother became concerned he was being groomed, the court heard.

Ms Brown said: "We moved to Huddersfield to start a new life. I gave up everything to make sure Harley was safe.

"He tried to pick people up when they were down. He had a kind heart."

Ms Brown said she felt "physically sick" living round the corner from where Harley was murdered.

"Harley, my world, had been brutally murdered and I couldn't even say goodbye to him," she said.

The court heard how on the day of the attack, Harley had taken a taxi to meet a female friend outside a 24-hour shop on Wakefield Road and "coincidentally" met the two defendants.

Harley, who had the nickname Dripzz, looked "panicked" when he saw the pair, his friend told the police.

During sentencing, judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, said there was "no evidence of the motive for what happened next".

The two chased Harley to King's Mill Lane and were seen on CCTV attacking him with knives, she said.

"The strikes are impossible to count. They are directed at all parts of his body as he kicked out helplessly," she added.

"It was an unprovoked, sustained and merciless attack. There is no doubt the two defendants share equal responsibility."

A machete-style knife discarded by the 17-year-old as he fled the scene was later found by a member of the public, the court heard.

Prosecutors had said the attack was "highly suggestive of having a motive of gang-related rivalry", but the judge said no evidence of this had been found.

The elder defendant was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years and six months in detention.

West Yorkshire Police later confirmed no arrests had been made after the fracas at Leeds Crown Court.