Judge prepares to sentence Wolverhampton machete murderers, 13, who killed 'irreplaceable' Shawn
A judge will this week decide the fate of two 13-year-old boys who murdered a "humble, hardworking and helpful" teenager on a playing field in Bilston with a machete.
The boys, who are both from Wolverhampton, were 12 years old when they were convicted of murdering Shawn Seesahai on Stowlawn playing fields.
During the attack on November 13 last year Mr Seesahai, who had only been in the UK a matter of months, suffered slash wounds to his legs and a stab wound that went through his back and ribs into his heart.
His pre-teen killers were both found guilty of murder in June this year after a month-long trial at Nottingham Crown Court. They are the youngest people to have been convicted of murder in Britain since Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 11, were found guilty in 1993 of killing two-year-old James Bulger.
Today they were brought back to the same court for the start of a complex two-day sentencing exercise.
Presiding Judge of the Midland Circuit the Honourable Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples heard a statement from Mr Seesahai's devastated family, who said "he will never be replaced by anyone because he is irreplaceable".
Representatives for both murderers also addressed the judge about their circumstances. See a recap of everything that was said on Thursday below, before the defendants are returned to court tomorrow to be sentenced.
