Baby-faced killers who murdered teen with knife in front of children named for first time
Kyle Dermody, now 15, stabbed Nathaniel in the neck in an argument over cannabis. He was just 14 at the time.
The teenage murderers of 14-year-old Nathaniel Shani can today be named after a judge lifted their anonymity orders on exceptional grounds.
Baby-faced Kyle Dermody, now 15, stabbed Nathaniel in the neck in an argument over cannabis.
He was just 14 at the time.
Trey Stewart-Gayle, 14, was also convicted of murder.
He was 13 at the time and had been armed with a screwdriver and encouraged and assisted Dermody in his killing.
Reporting restrictions had been in force until today prohibiting both teenagers from being named in public
A successful legal challenge by the Manchester Evening News has led to their identification.
High Court judge Mrs Justice Ellenbogen said in her judgement: “The public will wish to know the identities of those who commit such a serious offence in seeking to understand how it is that children of that age can do so. Knife crime in general and the circumstances of this particular case are matters of substantial public interest.”
In June both killers were both detained at His Majesty’s Pleasure, which is the youth equivalent of a life sentence.
Dermody was told he will have to serve at least 13 years, before he can be considered for release, while Stewart-Gayle's minimum term was ten years.
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At the sentencing, the judge said: "That a boy of his age should have met his death by boys of a similar age is a tragedy - sadly it is no longer shocking.”
Nathaniel, who was previously friends with Dermody, died following a row over cannabis theft.
they attended Manchester Communications Academy, but met in an alleyway off Tavistock Square on September 15 last year to fight out their dispute.
Nathaniel had become involved in street drug dealing with older people and saw himself a s a hard nut with a reputation to keep.
On the day of the murder, cannabis had been stolen from a friend of Nathaniel’s by Stewart-Gayle.
During the subsequent fight, Nathaniel punched Dermody, but he pulled out a knife and stabbed him to the neck.
The court heard Stewart-Gayle urged him to "do it".
The judge added in her sentencing: “Whatever his flaws, Nathaniel did not deserve to die and not in such a violent way. He deserved the opportunity to better himself and to make a positive contribution to society."
