Detectives arrested 12-year-olds as suspects 24 hours after the “brutal” murder

The month-long trial, which ended on Monday with the boys convicted of murder, said the youths were arrested at their homes within 10 minutes of each other, 24 hours after 19-year-old Seesahai was pronounced dead.

Nottingham Crown Court judges heard neither of the boys called for help, choosing not to call 999 anonymously, after they left their victim for dead on the lawn near Stowlawn Primary School in Wolverhampton.

Speaking after the trial, Detective Inspector Damian Forrest, of West Midlands Police, said the “brutal” joint attack followed a minor disagreement over a pitch in Stowlawn.

The officer said: “We received a call from West Midlands Ambulance Service reporting that a young man had been attacked and had suffered life-threatening injuries.

“Shortly afterwards we were told that he had in fact died at the scene.

“I was the senior homicide investigating officer on duty so I left the house, drove home and then spent the rest of the night with my team working on the early elements of the investigation.

“Later the next day, we received information that allowed us to identify two suspects in this case and we learned that they were 12 years old.

“I have been a police officer for 20 years and this is not the first time I have come across a young man who lost his life in a really brutal way, but then finding out that two 12-year-olds were responsible was shocking and forced all of us on the team investigators to stop and think.

“But I have a really professional team with a lot of experience, so we gathered our thoughts, adjusted our policies and processes accordingly, and then continued the investigation.”

The senior investigating officer added: “In my career I have never seen children as young as 12 carrying and using a machete in the manner described in court.”

Noting that West Midlands Police has initiatives such as the Home Office-backed Operation Guardian to tackle knife crime and youth violence, Forrest warned that young people who are around people carrying knives may face responsibility themselves. if a weapon was used in a violent incident.

He said: “If you are in a group and you know your friend has a knife and then you use serious violence, you need to know that you could also be responsible for that.

“It’s very difficult when people carry large knives and try to pretend they don’t know about it when they are pulled out and used the way they were used with Shawn.

“They are both young boys. None of them have ever been arrested or prosecuted for knife-related offences.

“None of them have ever been charged with any other crime.”

The detective added: “I would urge young people and the community to read about this and realize that… no one wins in a situation like this.

“You have the life of a young man who had everything ahead of him and now it is over. And you have two boys’ lives that have changed irreversibly.

“I think that people who carry knives in society should think that there are consequences for such actions – it goes beyond any idea that you might need protection or that it might give you some status or respect.

“There are very real, life-changing and life-ending consequences.”

Asked about the nature of the killing, the senior officer continued: “The attack was a brutal attack on a young man who had just been with friends in Wolverhampton.

“The level of injuries he sustained ended his life.

“If a knife is used in a fight, there is a very real risk of causing serious, life-changing or ending injuries.

“Witness statements and CCTV suggest this was a minor disagreement between two parties or two groups who did not know each other. And there’s no reason why they can’t just leave and go their separate ways.

“But knives can change the outcome of situations like this. I would therefore ask everyone to think carefully before taking, carrying or using one of these.”