The teenagers who murdered Prince Walker-Ayeni in Moss Side can be named for the first time.
Alkhader Qasem, 17, and Ishaaq Mia, 16, were both convicted of murdering the 17-year-old. Prince was stabbed three times, twice in his leg and once in his chest, as he was chased through the streets.
He died just days before his 18th birthday. Two groups – one made up of the two defendants and the other made up of Prince and a friend – had bumped into each other on Raby Street, Moss Side on April 4 last year. Within minutes a scuffle broke out, and Prince and his friend ran away.
Qasem stabbed Prince, as Mia chased their victim. The pair then fled. Qasem and Mia denied murder, claiming they acted in self-defence. But following a three-week long trial which ended in November, both were found guilty by a jury and sentenced last month.
The pair have so far remained anonymous in press coverage of the case, due to reporting restrictions imposed because of their age. But they can now both be named following a successful legal challenge brought by the Manchester Evening News.
Trial judge Mrs Justice Ellenbogen agreed with M.E.N’s submission there was strong public interest in naming the two killers after the pair were both handed the equivalent of a life sentence for juvenile offenders.
Last month, Qasem, of Bilsborrow Road, Rusholme, was sentenced to serve at least 15 years, while Mia, of Brantingham Road, Whalley Range, must serve at least eight-and-a-half years. The restrictions were formally lifted during a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court today (Wednesday, January 15). A custody image of Mia has not been released.
Prince Walker-Ayeni -Credit:GMP
It can now also be reported that Mia’s mother was also in the dock alongside her son. Saima Habib, 44, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice in connection with the killing.
The judge said in her ruling: “The public will wish to know the identities of those who commit such serious offences, together with the context within which they have been committed, in seeking to understand how it is that children of the relevant age can do so. I am satisfied that knife crime and perverting the course of public justice in general, and the circumstances of this particular case, are matters of substantial public interest.”
Prince’s mother Kayon Walker told of her devastation at her loss during the sentencing hearing. She said: “My pain is unbearable and to see the same pain in the eyes of my children, my daughters, and anyone that knew Prince is almost too much to bear. Prince was a remarkable person. He treated everyone with love and kindness.”
Michael Hayton KC, prosecuting, told the murder trial that the two groups met in a ‘casual, coincidental meeting’ at around 4pm. “There is no suggesting this was a pre-planned meeting,” he added.
“When the two groups came into close proximity, it appears there was tension when they spoke and very quickly violence broke out,” Mr Hayton said. “Prince Walker plays his part in this violence, throwing punches at Qasem at least.
“However, the violence does not end with an exchange of blows, Prince Walker runs away from the conflict. The defendants do not remain where they were, they follow Prince and his friend.
“They run as a tight pack. What they were trying to do, we say, is chase Prince in an attempt to assault him and inflict at least very serious harm upon him.”
Tributes left at the scene in Moss Side -Credit:Manchester Evening News
A witness parked on the roadside in a work van saw the initial violence before witnessing Qasem produce a knife from his waistband. The initial chase was captured on CCTV footage, in which Qasem was seen to launch a kick toward Prince during the scuffle before Prince ran down Raby Street. Qasem pursued him, closely followed by Mia.
Seconds later, the defendants were seen to run back on themselves. There was no CCTV footage of the attack, but the teens were in close proximity to where Prince sustained injuries. They ‘left him dying’ on the floor.
“As they are running past the work van, one of them is heard to say words to the effect of ‘you better dash that quick’,” Mr Hayton continued. “The Crown suggests that is referring to the disposing of a weapon.
“The defendants left the scene whilst members of the public called the emergency services. This was not school yard bullying or scrapping that can be amusing by the end of the school day. This involved the use of a weapon and left a boy dead.”
The emergency services were called, including an air ambulance. Despite the best efforts of medical teams, Prince was pronounced dead that afternoon. A post mortem report later concluded that he died as a result of three stab wounds, two to his leg and one to his chest.
While he was detained, Mia made a phone call to his mother, Saima Habib, and asked her to find a sim card that he had hidden before instructing her ‘you know what to do’, which prosecutors during the trial said inferred he wanted her to ‘get rid of it’. She was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The judge said of Habib: “By its verdict, the jury has found that, at his request, you assisted Ishaaq, by disposing of or concealing a SIM card which might have been of relevance to the police investigation, thereby making that investigation more difficult, and so having a tendency to pervert the course of public justice, with the intention of perverting the course of public justice.”
Police at the scene -Credit:Manchester Evening News
Habib, of Brantingham Road, Whalley Range, was sentenced to a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. The judge said she had ‘exceptional’ mitigation.
Defending Qasem, Mark Ford KC told the sentencing hearing: “Had Prince not assaulted Alkhader, he would still be alive.” He added: “But for that chance encounter and unprovoked assault, Prince would be alive and my client would not be in the dock of this court.”
Defending Mia, Lee Karu KC claimed that the defendant had ‘no idea’ about the presence of a knife. He said the boy had been out ‘minding his own business’.
Robert Fitt, defending Habib, who during the trial was found not guilty of a second count of perverting the course of justice, said that her actions had ‘no effect at all’ on the course of justice, given that her son had already been arrested and charged.
After the sentencing hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson from GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “Firstly, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Prince’s family and friends. They have shown undeniable togetherness in the face of adversity, they have carried themselves with dignity and respect throughout the course of this investigation and subsequent trial.
“Sadly, over the past few years, we have seen many instances like this where a young boy in his teenage years has lost his life.
“Prince’s death is another hard-hitting reminder of the devastating effect that carrying knives can have, not only has one boy lost his life but the impact of this incident has left a family scarred, something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
“I would like to thank the local community and the general public who came forward and provided statements which aided our enquiries. My team also deserve a huge amount of credit for their hard work and dedication throughout this investigation.”