Birmingham Crown Court heard how 14-year-old Dea-John Reid was chased by the team in May 2021, which behaved “like a herd chasing their prey” before the 15-year-old delivered the fatal stab wound. The jury debated for three days before acquitting four other defendants in the murder of Dea-John, who died from a single stab wound to the chest. The 15-year-old was acquitted of the murder but convicted of manslaughter. The defendants were George Hahn, 39, Michael Shields, 36, and two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, who could not be named because of their age. Tim Clark QC, representing the 15-year-old who was found guilty of Dea-John’s knife, said: “He admits that he caused Dea-John’s death, but he did not intend to kill him. He was acting in self-defense. “ Police charged four members of the group with the Joint Venture Act, which means that although they did not cause the fatal beating, they could have been responsible for the murder if it had been decided that they would probably have predicted their partner would commit it. Defendants’ attorneys said they did not intend to kill or seriously injure Dea-John, and some said they did not know anyone was holding a knife. Prosecutor Richard Wormald QC told the court that the murder was a “revenge attack” for events earlier in the day in which Dea-John had gone out with friends and one of the group was accused of trying to steal a bag from the 16-year-old. -old defendant. Led by Khan, the five traveled together to the Kingstanding area later to “chase” him. “It was a group attack in which everyone played their part, running after Dea-John and blocking his escape routes,” Wormald said. “It was a coordinated plan. All five were together in the car. “It’s unthinkable that they would not have known they were carrying deadly weapons,” he told the court, according to the Birmingham Mail. “Threatening and violent words were used. This is not a case of self-defense or of some defendants who do not know what was going on. “They were all together.” Shots were shown in court after Dea-John was fatally stabbed, in which all five defendants are seen chasing him, with some guns waving, before fleeing. “Having carried out the attack, the group left in a hurry – none of them offered any support or consolation to Dea-John Reid. “They just let him die,” Wormald said. Dea-John died at the scene and an autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a stab wound to the heart. Speaking after his death, Dea-John’s mother, Joan Morris, described her son as a talented young man. “I sent my son to play football and he did not return home. “I miss my son so much, he was a wonderful child,” he said. “What should I do without him?” Bishop Desmond Jaddoo, a community activist and spokesman for Dea-John’s family, said they were “sacrificed” by the verdict. “His family is of the opinion that there is no justice for Dea-John,” he said, adding that the evidence “clearly shows intent” as the defendant chased the victim while covering his face and holding a knife. “This raises the question of whether the criminal justice system is appropriate for its purpose? Where is the justice for Dea-John? ” said Jandu. “Dea-John’s death will not be in vain and the inequality in the criminal justice system must be addressed.” Hundreds attended a vigil in the days following the attack, which sparked tensions in the community following reports that Dea-John had been racistly abused before he was killed. A sixth defendant, Hollie Davies, 36, was also acquitted of aiding a perpetrator. The convicted teenager will be sentenced on May 5.
