Live: Sentencing of teen who murdered schoolboy Leo Ross

Live from Birmingham Crown Court

We are providing live coverage as a 15-year-old boy is sentenced for the "random and unprovoked" murder of 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross. The victim, described by his foster family as the "sweetest, kindest boy," was fatally stabbed in the stomach while walking home from school in Yardley Wood on 21 January 2025.

The defendant, who cannot be identified due to his age, entered a guilty plea last month. The court has previously heard disturbing evidence that the teenager "enjoyed hurting people" and maintained a history of seeking out vulnerable targets.

Leo Ross is believed to be the youngest victim of knife crime in the history of the West Midlands. Today’s proceedings will see the court weigh the defendant’s age against the gravity of a crime that police say had no motive and no prior connection between the attacker and the victim.

Key Events

• The fatal stabbing of 12-year-old Leo Ross as he made his way home from school in Yardley Wood.
• The "random and unprovoked" nature of the attack, with no known link between the schoolboy and his killer.
• The defendant’s history of targeting vulnerable individuals and previous claims that he "enjoyed hurting people."
• The guilty plea entered by the 15-year-old at Birmingham Crown Court last month.
• Impact statements from Leo’s foster family detailing the loss of a boy who "put others before himself."
• Legal arguments regarding the minimum term of the life sentence to be imposed on the juvenile defendant.
• Investigative findings from West Midlands Police regarding the rise of youth knife crime in the region.
• The final sentencing remarks from the presiding judge as the teenager faces a mandatory life term.

Live Birmingham Crown Court Reportng by Jason King - editing by Emily Beach ⬇️

11:47am

🔴 DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HIM

Emergency services were called and bystanders tried to help, but Leo later died in hospital from his injuries ⬇️

11:45am

🔴 FOUND BY THE RIVERSIDE

Members of the public discovered Leo lying badly injured on a riverside path near the River Cole, suffering from a stab wound to the stomach ⬇️

11:43am

🔴 HE NEVER ARRIVED

When the friend reached the meeting point, Leo was not there. Concern grew as minutes passed with no sign of him ⬇️

11:40am

🔴 FINAL PHONE CALL

As he walked, the 12-year-old was on the phone to a friend, arranging to meet at a familiar spot near a tree in Trittiford Mill Park, police later told the court ⬇️

11:39am

🔴 LAST WALK HOME

Leo Ross left his school in Yardley Wood, Birmingham, on the afternoon of 21 January 2025, setting off on what should have been a routine 10-minute walk home ⬇️

11:37am

🔴 TRAGIC ATTACK

As the court prepares to sentence a 15-year-old boy for murder, here is a recap of how 12-year-old Leo Ross lost his life in a random knife attack in Birmingham last year ⬇️ 11:35am

🔴 JUDGE WARNS AGAINST DISRUPTION

The judge has warned the court that there must be no disruption to proceedings today ⬇️

11:34am

🔴 PROSECUTION AND DEFENCE HEARD

The judge has heard submissions from both the prosecution and defence on the matter of lifting the reporting restrictions ⬇️

11:32am

🔴 JUDGE CONSIDERING MEDIA APPLICATIONS

Mr Justice Choudhury KC is currently considering applications from the media to lift reporting restrictions preventing identification of Leo Ross’s killer ⬇️ 11:30am

🔴 LEO ROSS FOSTER FAMILY IN COURT FOR SENTENCING

Leo Ross’s foster family is present in court this morning as the judge prepares to deliver the sentence ⬇️

11:22 am

🔴 LIVE COVERAGE OF SENTENCING OF LEO ROSS'S KILLER

Today we'll be covering the sentencing of a 15-year-old boy who admitted murdering 12-year-old Leo Ross in Birmingham last year.

Leo is believed to be the youngest victim of knife crime in the West Midlands and was stabbed in the stomach on his way home from school in Yardley Wood on 21 January 2025 ⬇️