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A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to at least 13 years in custody for the murder of Leo Ross, 12, in Birmingham last year.
Leo was stabbed in the stomach as he made his way home from his school in Yardley Wood on 21 January 2025 and later died in hospital.
The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to the murder last month.
Delivering the sentence at Birmingham crown court on Tuesday, Justice Choudhury KC said the 15-year-old had been “engaged in a campaign of violence against several people” and Leo’s family were enduring a “living hell” now.
“Leo was an innocent schoolboy, who was just on his way to meet a friend in the park … you stabbed Leo with a knife and left him to die. Leo was only 12 years old,” Choudhury said.
“The devastation you have caused to so many lives is hard to comprehend and, for those who knew and loved Leo, almost too great to bear. You have robbed Leo of his life and his future.”
The judge told the court the 15-year-old would serve a minimum term of 13 years in prison and would not be released unless a Parole Board found it was safe to do so.
DI Joe Davenport from West Midlands police read out a statement from Leo Ross’s foster family, the Westons, which said the sentencing “does not bring justice in the way our hearts long for” and “our family will live with this pain forever”.
“We miss him every day, our world has been torn apart and his absence has left a permanent void in our family, one that can never be filled,” the statement added.
Leo’s mother, Rachel Fisher, said the 13-year minimum sentence was “a joke”.
“Thirteen years is a complete and utter joke, and it’s just going to keep on happening and keep on happening until something’s done about it,” she told PA Media.
“These kids aren’t scared. They aren’t scared of the sentence. They’re not worried. The local authority and the police have got a lot to answer for.”
In court, Fisher had described her son as “the most beautiful little soul”.
“His life should have been just beginning but now he will never get to have his first job, his first car, get married or have his own children,” she said.
“I will never see my lovely boy get married or have a family of his own. I have lost everything I did have and would have with him.”
His father, Christopher Ross, spoke directly to his son’s attacker and said: “Look up man … you killed my son.”
He added: “Leo was loved by everyone. Everyone said how special he was. He was the kindest little boy you could ever hope to meet.”
Officers believed Leo had no connection to the 15-year-old and was the victim of a random attack.
Defending the 15-year-old, Alistair Webster said the boy has “formidable mental health problems” and a “repeated history of hearing voices”.
In mitigation, the barrister said the defendant had been diagnosed with childhood conduct disorder and ADHD, and had suicidal thoughts.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge addressed the 15-year-old’s mental state and said: “You knew and were aware of the consequences of your actions. You were thinking coolly and rationally.”
He also detailed how the 15-year-old assaulted several people, including elderly women, before the murder.
“The savagery required to inflict such injuries to a defenceless elderly lady is hard to comprehend,” the judge said.
The killer, who was 14 at the time of the attack, previously admitted to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on 19 and 20 January and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 21 January 2025 in relation to separate attacks on other victims. He also admitted to having a bladed article on the day he killed Leo.
He denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 22 October 2024 and assault by beating on 29 December 2024 in relation to two other victims, and those charges were ordered to lie on file.
