Friday 3 May 2024
A youth has been found guilty of the murder of 15-year-old Alfie Lewis who was stabbed and fatally wounded in Leeds last year.
The 15-year-old boy, who was 14 at the time of the murder, was convicted following a unanimous decision by a jury at Leeds Crown Court today.
Alfie was attacked at the junction of Church Road and Church Lane, in Horsforth, shortly before 3pm on Tuesday, November 7, last year.
He was stabbed twice – once in the chest and once in the leg – with the chest wound penetrating his heart and causing catastrophic bleeding. He was pronounced dead at hospital a short time later.
The incident happened in a busy street during school home time, outside a local primary school, when Alfie was on his way to meet friends from Horsforth School, where he had previously been a student.
Eyewitnesses, including children, school staff and passing members of the public, gave evidence that they had seen the youth involved approach Alfie and attack him without provocation.
They reported seeing Alfie backing away and being heard saying “chill out” and “what are you doing?” as the youth swung at him with the knife.
The youth ran off, leaving the knife near the scene, and was arrested from his home about an hour later after being identified by witnesses.
Detectives from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Inquiry Team launched a murder investigation.
The kitchen knife, which was matched to a set of knives at the boy’s home, was forensically examined and blood matching Alfie’s DNA was found on it.
Alfie’s blood was also found on the youth’s clothing where he had briefly replaced the knife in his waistband before discarding it near the scene.
The handle of the knife had been painted black and the youth is believed to have carried it with him at school all day, preparing to seek out Alfie at home time.
The court was told of two previous incidents involving both boys – one in July where Alfie had intervened during a fight between the youth and another boy, and one on October 31 involving a bag of fireworks the youth was carrying.
The youth said he was threatened by Alfie and feared for his life as a result of these incidents. He denied murder and claimed that he had acted in self-defense.
But the jury discounted his claims and convicted him of murder.
The youth, who has previously pleaded guilty to possession of a kitchen knife used in the incident, is due to be sentenced on June 21.
A statement from Alfie’s family – which was read outside court by his brother Antony Lewis:
“Alfie’s family would like to say thank you to West Yorkshire Police for the countless hours of investigative work conducted in bringing this case to court, to our specialist Family Liaison Officer Ruth and especially to those first on the scene whose immediate actions meant Alfie’s murderer was identified and arrested within an hour of him attacking Alfie.
“We would like to thank the medical professionals, both on the scene and in the hospital, for their valiant efforts in trying to save Alfie’s life. We would like to thank Mr Hassall KC and Katherine Robinson for their skill and commitment in securing justice for Alfie.
“We would like to thank all those involved, in court and behind the scenes, in ensuring this trial went ahead. We would like to thank the jury for reaching what, to us, appears a sensitive and obvious conclusion, that Alfie did not pose a threat to anyone around him, and his death was senseless.
“Our deepest thanks go to all those individuals who rushed to Alfie’s aid after he was attacked, who showed him love, care and compassion and tried to save his life. To all the witnesses who assisted the police and CPS, both children and adults, we saw and heard the impact Alfie’s murder has had on you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your bravery.
“We would like to thank our family and friends and the wider community of Horsforth for their compassion and support and know that Alfie’s bench will bring comfort to much of the community, and to many of his friends and their families, as it does us.
“The only justice we would want is for Alfie to come home, to his mother and brother, and to us.
“Most of all we would like to say thank you to our Alfie, for giving us all your love, joy, and humor and making us smile every day in the 15 years we had to enjoy and love you. You are always in our hearts and our minds, and until we are all together again keep dancing in the sky our beautiful boy. “We miss you and we love you, always.”
