Two 12-year-old boys have been found guilty of murdering Shawn Seesahai, a 19-year-old who was fatally stabbed with a machete in an unprovoked attack on Stowlawn playing fields in East Park, Wolverhampton.
This tragic incident occurred last November, marking the boys as the youngest convicted of such a crime since the infamous case of James Bulger’s killers in 1993.
During the trial at Nottingham Crown Court, both boys attempted to shift the blame onto each other. Despite their efforts, the jury convicted them of Mr. Seesahai’s murder on Monday.
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Jurors heard harrowing details about the attack, including how a single blow from the 16-inch machete almost passed entirely through the victim’s body.
One of the boys had previously admitted to possessing the machete without lawful authority, while his accomplice was convicted of the same offense during the trial.
Shawn Seesahai, originally from Anguilla in the Caribbean, had come to the UK seeking treatment for his eyesight.
After successful surgery, he was hopeful about his future and planning his education. His parents, Suresh and Maneshwary, expressed their profound grief, describing their son as a “very loving child.” They stated they would never overcome the loss of their son.
Special court arrangements were made due to the young ages of the defendants. They were allowed to sit in the main well of the court with family members and intermediaries to help them understand the proceedings. The barristers and judge, Mrs. Justice Tipples, did not wear traditional wigs and gowns to create a less intimidating environment.
On the day of the murder, Mr. Seesahai had traveled to Wolverhampton with friends. The two defendants, who regularly carried a machete, were seen with two girls of similar age. The confrontation occurred when Mr. Seesahai and a friend were at the playing fields, and one boy deliberately shoulder-brushed him.
When Mr. Seesahai questioned their actions, one of the boys drew the machete, prompting him to shout for his friend to run. While his friend escaped, Mr. Seesahai was brutally attacked and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The court heard that the boys had been fascinated with knives, sharing screenshots of weapons and searching for news articles about their attack. One boy had even posed with the murder weapon in a mask before the killing. Evidence of bloodstains on their clothing and one boy’s online searches about fleeing the country highlighted their awareness of their crime.
Mr. Seesahai’s parents recalled the devastating moment they learned of their son’s death. His mother received the call and broke down in tears, unable to speak, while his father took the phone and heard the tragic news.
The family was in shock and unable to eat for a week. They remembered Shawn as a well-mannered, protective, and loving son who had big dreams for his future.
Despite their unimaginable loss, Mr. Seesahai’s father expressed sympathy for the parents of the two boys, stating he did not wish to see them imprisoned for life but wanted an appropriate sentence. The boys will be sentenced at a later date.
Det Insp Damian Forrest of West Midlands Police called the case “shocking” and noted it was the first time he had encountered such young perpetrators in a knife crime.
He highlighted the alarming rate of knife crime in the West Midlands and the ongoing efforts to address the issue through operations like the West Midlands Police Guardian Task Force.
Insp Colin Gallier from the task force emphasized the challenges posed by the easy accessibility of knives, particularly those purchased online or through social media, and noted the misconception that carrying a knife provides protection.
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