Yousef Makki would be 18 this weekend

[Tomanddanandgirlwondersmum]

I have a teenage son who is in the same year at school, and seeing the video of Yousef on Twitter today has broken my heart.

How the family are able to support others and the anti-knife crime cause in general while suffering such grief is completely beyond me.

Please read his story and see how the family were treated by the criminal justice system. And please spread awareness of their petition and gofundme page, which was created by his sister. His sister who was shown footage of his dead body in court without warning, and who saw her brother's unrepentant killer acquitted despite admitting the crime.

This video may break your heart:

mobile.twitter.com/stopkn1fecrime/status/1176509113729265667

Please share:

www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-justice-for-yousef-we-need-tougher-sentences-for-knife-crime?j=550035&sfmc_sub=241496614&l=32_HTML&u=67355988&mid=7233052&jb=16545

www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-yousef-makki

Their original petition got thousands of signatures in the immediate wake of the verdict, but had to be replaced because one of the boys was named. Please consider signing, as this poor family suffer one of their worst days.

Thanks all

Xx

Signed xx

Of course this is a very horrible situation and I totally agree that the criminal justice system has gone to shit... but, you do realise that it’s been reported that Yousef and friends were attempting to rob a drug dealer and dabbled in criminal activity? He had a knife himself and got into a fight with one of the defendants. I don’t believe there are any innocent parties in this. In that type of lifestyle, unfortunately circumstances like these are bound to happen

I can sympathise with a parent and a sister's deep loss and confusion without having to assign blame to the victim in these circumstances.

There was no proof that he carried a knife.

But my main concern is the fact that he was stabbed twelve inches through the heart with a double-bladed knife, and that he was left while the weapon was hidden. Six minutes went by before an ambulance was called. His killer was acquitted of manslaughter despite having a motive (he was angry at the time). The killer later taunted the family.

The boy's wealthy background was a factor in the acquittal. He had been expelled from four schools, had reportedly set a little girl's hair on fire, and evidence showed he was obsessed with knives. The police pushed for a murder conviction as they didn't believe it was accidental. Yet he got off thanks to a very expensive lawyer. The police were unhappy with this verdict, but the family are heartbroken.

Without justice, the family cannot grieve. Justice would have been a manslaughter conviction at the very least. I believe it is a consequence of our gravely underfunded court system that this happened.

I know how excited my son would be, knowing his 18th fell on a Saturday, expecting a party. Instead, a visit to a grave.

I have seen injustice like this affect two families. One, a close friend whose husband was unlawfully killed as he died from cancer. I watched her fall apart over months as authorities fought her attempts to get justice - but she won. She got justice, and has begun the grieving process.

The other is even more tragic. A teenager killed but the police were unable to prove who killed him - because witnesses kept quiet. Their mum had another child who went to school with one of mine, and though she is incredibly brave I have seen the toll it took on her. I don't know her or the case well, but I do know that she will never, ever be able to grieve properly. That is what happens when there is no justice. You cannot move on.

Please think of him today, and see the glowing testimonial given by his head teachers.

I can’t see how the defendant’s background and wealth were factors. It’s standard for the prosecution and defence to be represented by a QC and defendants without means are given legal aid

He's been named today, boy a.

altrincham.today/2019/10/06/news/police-fire-and-court/revealed-teenager-hale-cleared-murdering-yousef-makki-named-first-time/

His mum is reported to have hired a PR firm and been paid for her exclusive Telegraph interview.

The Makki family made a point of taking no money from the press.

I cannot imagine their pain. It must be intolerable. I posted about this because I watched a friend of mine fall apart fighting for justice when her husband was unlawfully killed. I have seen the difference that getting justice (which she eventually did, after a long fight) makes to a family's ability to grieve. Without justice, you are trapped in a world of endless pain.

There is a new update on the gofundme page which explains what they want to do with the money - it will cost £25,000 just to gain access to court papers.

This is all so unjust.

www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-yousef-makki

I think this is extremely sad and I can fully understand that it must be dreadful for Yousef's family

However, we have to be careful here. Why is it unacceptable for Boris Johnson to call into question a decision of the court (it is) but it's fine for us...none of whom attended court for the entirety of the trial to call into question the decision of the jury? I understand that the CPS have reviewed this and don't feel there is any legal basis for an appeal. I do hope though that Yousef's family can use the money for a civil action if they feel that will help them with this awful process

I feel so terribly sorry for his family, this horrendous crime happened a stones throw away from me and not only that the murdering little shits darling mother runs about 5 (very expensive) nurseries in and around the area.

The police were disappointed with the verdict.

Essentially, the verdict disturbs me because there is no evidence backing up a lot of what the killer claimed - that he acted in self-defence, that Yousef had a knife. Yousef had a huge chest wound but no defensive injuries, and the knife went in up to the hilt.

In a recent case, a young man body slammed his friend on a pavement and accidentally killed him. He tried to save his friend and showed remorse. He was still convicted of manslaughter. This boy was not. That is wrong.

Essentially, the verdict disturbs me because there is no evidence backing up a lot of what the killer claimed

I'm sorry, unless you attended court everyday, you are not in a position to say that. It is actually irresponsible to do so.

The police saying they are disappointed with a verdict is not the same as saying they disagree with it

This is an absolutely tragic case but I don't think uninformed discussions about evidence is helpful for the family at all. I hope they are getting decent support from the police and the CPS and bedn offered appropriate debriefs etc

@Tomanddanandgirlwondersmum I agree with you 100%. Something was very wrong about this whole case.

Yousef's sister and family attended the trial daily. She gives a first hand account. Such a tragedy. He's been painted out to be the victim rather than Yousef.

She stated her son had mild learning difficulties but seemed to indulge him rather than nurture from a young age. She couldn't handle him and supposedly washed her hands of him. She housed him in a hotel and visited him daily whilst he was at Cheadle High until being packed off to boarding school. What parenting is that? Seems he needed professional help.