By james art 
The other boy expressed shock and regret after the incident, claiming he did not know his friend had a knife. He said he joined the attacker out of fear.
A 15-year-old boy in the UK has been given a life sentence for fatally stabbing 17-year-old Muhammad Hassam Ali in Birmingham city centre. The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife, leading to a minimum sentence of 13 years.
Mohammed died in hospital in January after being attacked in Victoria Square. Earlier that day, he and a friend had been followed by two masked boys. The second boy, also aged 15, was convicted of manslaughter and possession of a knife, receiving a five-year sentence in secure housing.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Garnham expressed concern about the increasing violence associated with knife crime. He noted that Muhammad’s killing underscores the tragic consequences of carrying knives in public. The judge acknowledged the deep grief of Mohammed’s family, saying: “It is clear to me that he was a much loved son and brother.”
In a statement, Mohammed’s family shared their heartbreak. They said: “We still can’t bear the thought of how he died… The loss of Mohammed or any child is devastating.” They remember him as a kind and friendly boy with ambitions to become an engineer.
Witnesses reported that Mohammed and his friend were enjoying hot chocolate and talking about cricket when the masked boys confronted them. The assailants followed them from the Grand Central mall and questioned them about a previous incident with a friend of theirs.
During the altercation, one of the boys pulled out a large knife and stabbed Mohammed in the chest before running away. The attacker later claimed he only wanted to “frighten” Mohammed and did not mean to cause serious injury. He explained that he carried a knife for protection after being attacked in the past.
The other boy expressed shock and regret after the incident, claiming he did not know his friend had a knife. He said he joined the attacker out of fear.
Michael Ivers KC, representing the defendant, said the boy was deeply remorseful and regularly prayed for Mohammed and his family. “He is truly sorry for what happened,” Ivers said, stressing that if he could change the past, he would do so to lessen the impact on others affected by this tragedy.