Teenager Convicted of Manslaughter in Stabbing Death of Joshua

The 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted by jurors at Hove Crown Court on Wednesday morning. He was on trial alongside two other boys, aged 17 and 15, accused of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent; jurors found all three not guilty of that charge. The 15-year-old was found guilty of assisting an offender, while the 17-year-old had already pleaded guilty to the same charge.

The prosecution said the defendant was a “small-time drug dealer” who had threatened the convicted teen, saying: “Josh will perish if I don’t get my f****** money, that’s a fact and he knows this. I’m ready to sit in a prison cell for 30 years over a £20 sheet. Prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC said the attack was so fast that Joshua “stood no chance” and died within an hour, before reaching hospital.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming the knife was an “accessory” he bought on Telegram and that he never intended to kill. A friend who witnessed the attack said the defendant looked very calm” and stabbed Joshua twice without hesitation.