Dylan Holliday: Teen jailed for stabbing 16-year-old boy to death

The judge said Jamal Waddell, 17, was responsible for "appalling violence" on Dylan

A teenager has been jailed for fatally stabbing a 16-year-old boy.

Dylan Holliday was knifed 13 times in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in August 2021.

Jamal Waddell, 17, was convicted of manslaughter in August and was sentenced to 12 years in prison with four on licence at Coventry Crown Court on Wednesday.

Sentencing him, the judge said Waddell was responsible for "appalling violence".

Waddell, who can be named after the judge lifted an anonymity order, was also convicted of grievous bodily harm against Dylan's friend and of possession of a knife.

He was handed 18 months for each offence, which will run concurrently to the manslaughter sentence.

The court heard the defendant, originally from Wellingborough and who turns 18 next month, had carried knives regularly from the age of 12.

It heard on the day of the attack, social workers had dropped him off in the town and were unaware he was armed.

The court was told he was with another 17-year-old boy when they approached Dylan and his friend on the Queensway estate.

Dylan Holliday "was a defenceless boy of 16" when he was attacked, Coventry Crown Court heard

Waddell claimed Dylan was "swinging" an arm that was in a cast and that he struck out at the 16-year-old to "keep him away from me".

He also claimed he then saw his friend, the other defendant, being punched by the boy with Dylan, so struck out at him for the "protection of my friend".

Dylan was pronounced dead at hospital and a post-mortem examination found 13 stab wounds.

Waddell was the only one to stab Dylan and his friend, the court heard.

The 17-year-old boy who was with Waddell was convicted of grievous bodily harm against Dylan's friend, and given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order.

'Never be forgiven'

Mr Justice Ian Dove said Waddell was "responsible for appalling violence on Dylan Holliday".

In an impact statement read to the court, Dylan's sister said: "Living without Dylan is so hard. Not hearing Dylan screaming and shouting is weird.

"I miss all of his stupid complaints and if I'm honest my house doesn't feel like home any more."

She told Waddell he would "never be forgiven" for the attack on her big brother.

"I have to grow alone without him to protect me. I wish I'd told him I loved him one more time," she said.

Det Sup Joe Banfield, from Northamptonshire Police, said: "Sadly, this case once again demonstrates the danger of knives and Northamptonshire Police will continue to work relentlessly to remove these deadly weapons from our streets."

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership said Dylan's killing would be subject to a child safeguarding practice review.