Teen Gets Life After Boy Murdered On Camera

A 15-year-old boy has been given a life sentence for the killing of schoolboy Leroy James.

Mustafa Gurpinar, who was 14 at the time, knifed victim Leroy James, also then 14, during a pre-arranged fight. 

Gurpinar had challenged Leroy on Facebook to a fight in a local play area in Ponders End, north London, in August last year.

But he pulled a knife out of his pocket when the larger boy got the better of him, the Old Bailey heard.

Gurpinar was found guilty of murder by a 10-2 majority, and guilty of having a knife as an offensive weapon, last month.

The trial was told that Gurpinar, who called his knife his "pet" or "alligator", had a fascination with weapons.

He later talked online about changing his "alligator" for a machete, which he called a "crocodile".

Before the confrontation, Leroy handed his phone to a girl who videoed his death.

The disturbing 12-second clip of the attack was shown to jurors who saw other youngsters egging the two boys on.

As they struggled, Leroy's white T-shirt became stained with his blood as he was stabbed in the heart.

The bystanders called out to him that he had been "bored", and Leroy suddenly collapsed on to his back.

Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said: "Whilst he remained on his feet for a few more seconds, soon he fell and his lifeblood ebbed away."

Judge John Bevan ordered that Gurpinar spend at least 13 years in detention.

He told him: "You have an extreme interest in knives. You took the knife to the park. You showed a singular lack of restraint."

The judge said Leroy's family had been devastated by his loss.