THREE teenagers have been found guilty, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, of Grievous Bodily Harm with intent after they stabbed a 14 year old boy in Little Ilford Park, Manor Park, E12. The stabbing took place on 5th April.
One of the 16 year old boys charged pleaded guilty as their trial began on 22nd August. The other two – a second 16 year old and a 14 year old – were found guilty at the end of the trial.
The Court heard how the victim had been out in the Park with friends – riding his bike and playing cricket. The three older teenagers came up to him and told him he had been looking at them in a “funny way”.
As 7pm approached, the victim and his friends went to leave the park and go home. The three teens came up to him again – and this time they had a knife. The victim was holding the cricket bat with which he had been playing earlier – and the gang of three struggled with him, trying to take the bat away from him.
The gang then stabbed their victim in his chest, took the bat – and hit him over the head with it before running away down Gainsborough Avenue. Police later obtained CCTV images which showed the gang of three smiling and happy as they hid themselves away after the incident.
The victim was taken to hospital, with life-threatening injuries. The stab wound to his chest was only two inches away from his heart. He also had a collapsed lung an a head injury. Fortunately, after two weeks in hospital, the youngster made a recovery.
The three teens who attacked him were quickly arrested after the incident and appeared in Thames Magistrates’ Court, in custody, on 7th April. They have now been convicted and will return to Court to be sentenced on 1st October.
•Read more about this story: Three young teens charged with Newham teen stabbing
•Read more crime stories: Westfield watch suspect identified, but not found Man arrested after Hackney bike “hit and run”