Teen killers jailed for Nathaniel's murder

VICTIM’S FAMILY RELEASE MOVING STATEMENT AFTER BOYS SENTENCED

- AMY WALKER

TWO teenage boys have been jailed for life for the murder of 14-year-old Nathaniel Shani.

Nathaniel died after being stabbed to the neck in an alleyway in Harpurhey last September.

Boy A, aged 15, and Boy B, aged 14, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were both found guilty of his murder at a trial at Manchester Crown Court earlier this year.

The court heard that Nathaniel died following a row over cannabis being stolen. Nathaniel and Boy A had met in an alleyway off Tavistock Square as part of a 'fight to settle differences, the court heard.

On the day of the killing, cannabis had been stolen from a friend of Nathaniel's by Boy B.

"Nathaniel viewed this as a loss of face to him and his group," prosecutor Jason Pitter KC said.

An arrangement was made to meet to 'sort things, the court was told. Nathaniel arrived in the square at about 6pm and met with Boy A and Boy B. During the ensuconfrontation Nathaniel punched Boy A, who produced a knife and stabbed him to the neck.

Nathaniel was seen clutching his neck after being knifed, before collapsing in the square.