Teenager admits murder of innocent 12-year-old boy stabbed on way home from school

A teenager has pleaded guilty to the murder of 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross.

Leo was stabbed in the stomach in a random and senseless attack by a 15-year-old boy on a riverside path in Shire Country Park, Hall Green, Birmingham, on January 21 last year.

He was rushed to hospital but died of his wounds.

His heartbroken family described him as an ‘amazing, kind, loving’ boy.

Leo had been walking home from the Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood when he was stabbed.

His killer, who was 14 at the time of the killing and is now 15, had previously hunted down and attacked several women in local parkland.

He pleaded guilty to murder, as well as two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The defendant’s guilty pleas were entered more than six months after a trial was postponed for psychiatric experts to assess the defendant, who cannot be identified due to his age.

Judge Paul Farrer KC said sentencing would be set for February 10 and would likely last the full day.

He told the teenage killer: ‘I can’t sentence you today for a number of reasons. You will be sentenced on February 10 and you will be brought from wherever you are being kept to Birmingham where you can speak to your lawyers.

‘In the meantime you are remanded into youth detention.’

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