Two 12-year-old boys accused of murdering a 19-year-old man in Wolverhampton have gone on trial today (May 2). The defendants, who cannot be named because of their age, are alleged to have killed Shawn Seesahai.
Shawn was pronounced dead after being found stabbed in Stowlawn playing fields, in East Park area of Wolverhampton, on November 13 last year. Emergency services were called to land off Laburnum Road, just after 8.40pm that day.
Shawn was given advanced life support at the scene after being found in a critical condition. But nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead by crews. The trial is taking place at Nottingham Crown Court where a jury has been sworn in.
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join
The prosecution will outline its case to members of the jury today (May 2). Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the trial.
15:11Jordan Coussins
End of court updates today
This is the end of live court updates today (May 2). Check back later for the latest updates on the case.
14:39Key Event
Everything heard in court this morning
Two 12-year-old boys ‘roaming the streets’ with a deadly machete killed an ‘utterly defenceless’ man they bumped into at a park, a murder trial has heard. The two youths slashed Shawn Seesahai’s body with a blade just ‘seconds’ after meeting him in Wolverhampton, prosecutors allege.
They are said to have plunged the knife into his back, legs and skull, in a horror stabbing witnessed by a schoolgirl. One of the wounds went through the 19-year-old’s back and ribs, piercing his heart.
To read more, click here.
12:45Jordan Coussins
Victim told his mum ‘he loved her’ in final call
The court has heard how Mr Seesahai travelled to the UK to stay with his uncle in London in April 2023. This was because he had treatment at a Manchester hospital to remove a cataract, his mother said in her statement.
His mum recalled staying in the UK with her son for ‘some time’ before flying back home. Mr Seesahai – who loved basketball and music – remained in the UK as he wanted to see if he could go back to school.
Mr Seesahai was staying with a friend, who had been a neighbour in Anguilla, in May last year. The friend had arranged for Mr Seesahai to stay in Handsworth, the court heard.
His mum said: “The last time I spoke to Shawn was on the day he died. He also spoke to his sister that day. The last words he said to her was that he loved her.”
12:44Jordan Coussins
Tribute from mum
A statement from Mr Seesahai’s mother is now being read to the court. In it, she tells how her son grew up in South Valley, Anguilla – where the family still live.
Her son ‘loved school’ but left at 16 with no qualifications due to issues with his eyesight. Medics discovered Mr Seesahai had a detached retina when he was a teenager.
He flew to New York to have surgery at Queens Hospital as the treatment was not available in the Caribbean. Medics later told Mr Seesahai that he had glaucoma and just 10 per cent vision, his mother said.
She told how her son would ask if he ‘was going to go blind’, with his condition stopping him from working. With no nightclubs or pubs in Anguilla, as there are in the UK, a young Mr Seesahai would ‘spend most of his time at home’ or sitting on the steps outside his family home.
12:30Jordan Coussins
Mr Seesahai was ‘left to die’ as boys ran away
Jurors have heard how CCTV footage captured both boys getting to the park at about 8.15pm.
Ms Heeley said: “It’s when Mr Seesahai and his friend come to that bench that they come into contact with the two defendants. That is when the attack happened. “At no time did anyone see Mr Seesahai with a weapon and yet, within seconds of getting to that bench, he had been viciously attacked.”
The two defendants had left the park by 8.25pm. Ms Heeley added: “By that time, Mr Seesahai had been stabbed, kicked and beaten. “He was left dying at the scene as the two boys ran away, taking the machete with them. The Crown’s case is that the two boys jointly attacked Mr Seesahai.
“They used the machete to hit him more than once.” Ms Heeley alleged the boys either intended to kill Mr Seesahai or ‘at the very least’ cause him very serious harm. Ms Heeley has now come to the end of her opening speech.
12:07Key Event
Victim had multiple injuries, court told
Mr Seesahai died at the scene. Ms Heeley added: “He had been hit so hard with the machete that a piece of skull, a piece of bone, had actually come away.”
He suffered ‘slash’ type injuries, while the machete had gone through his body, through his ribs and into his heart. Mr Seesahai’s friend raised the alarm with friends who called the police.
Police rushed to the scene and started CPR but Mr Seesahai was ‘already dead’.
11:42Jordan Coussins
Prosecution call killing a ‘joint attack’ on man who had done nothing wrong
The girl told police how she saw Mr Seesahai fall to the ground as she ran from the park. She alleges she saw both boys ‘punching’ and ‘kicking’ him as he lay on the floor.
The schoolgirl claims she saw the boy who denies possession of the machete using it to Mr Seesahai’s legs. The second boy was punching and ‘stamping’ on his victim, she alleges.
Ms Heeley said: “The prosecution say the two boys were engaged in a joint attack on a man who had done nothing wrong, a man with no weapon who was utterly defenceless on the ground.”
11:39Jordan Coussins
Both boy’s carried blades – witness said
The prosecutor has told how the girl who witnessed the alleged murder ‘felt some loyalty to her friends’. But she shed further light on what is said to have happened during a second interview with police.
She claimed one of the boys had the machete earlier in the day – which she said was not ‘unusual’ as he ‘often carried it’. This boy has already admitted possession of a machete, the court has been told.
The girl went on to allege that the second boy had the machete in his possession, too. She says she saw him pick up the blade and put it in the air.
He denies this.
11:35Jordan Coussins
Boys ‘shoulder barged’ victim that ‘attacked him’ – court told
One of the boys ‘shoulder barged’ Mr Seesahai, who responded with “what the ****”. He then pulled the machete from his trousers ‘ready to use it’, the prosecutor alleged.
Mr Seesahai told his friend to ‘run’. The friend managed to escape, turning his head back to see Mr Seesahai on the floor ‘surrounded’ by the two defendants.
Ms Heeley said: “Mr Seesahai and his friend had offered no violence, they had done nothing to offend the two boys.” She added: “[Mr Seesahai’s friend] did not see the vicious attack that ensued.”
11:31Jordan Coussins
Machete was exchanged between the youths, court told
Ms Heeley has said that the young girl who left the area before the alleged murder told police she saw Mr Seesahai in Stowlawn playing fields before he was injured.
She claimed she also saw the machete passed between both youth defendants, with one of them heard saying “keep stepping” as the blade was exchanged.
11:29Jordan Coussins
Victim was with a friend before alleged murder
Jurors have been told how Mr Seesahai took a tram from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, getting off at the Priestfield stop just after 6.30pm. He walked to a petrol station with a friend, where the pair bought some Red Bull before heading to Stolawn playing fields.
They sat on a bench in the park before moving towards a basketball court. It was only when they started to head back to the bench that they spotted a group near the bench.
The two defendants were with just one girl at this point as the second friend had already left, the court has heard. Ms Heeley added: “Whilst these two boys were roaming the streets with a deadly weapon, Mr Seesahai was just with his friends.”
11:20Jordan Coussins
One of the youngsters ‘regularly carried a machete’ – court told
Mr Seesahai was with friends in Wolverhampton on the day he was allegedly murdered, Ms Heeley said. The defendants were also in the city with two girls from about 4.10pm.
One of the girls was to later tell police that one of the accused killers ‘regularly carried a machete’ and had a machete with him on the day of the killing. Both youths were seen to pass the machete between themselves, she claimed.
Ms Heeley said: “These boys had gone out armed with a large weapon.”
11:18Jordan Coussins
Victim travelled over to the UK for treatment
Jurors have been told how Mr Seesahai was originally from Anguilla, the Caribbean, but was living in Handsworth at the time of his death.
He had travelled to the UK to get help with his eyesight as he needed treatment for cataracts.
Following successful treatment, Mr Seesahai ‘started planning for the future in ways he had not been able to previously.”
11:16Key Event
Murder trial begins
The trial has now started at Nottingham Crown Court. Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC is starting by outlining the case to the jury.
She said: “On November 13 last year, Shawn Seesahai was murdered by being struck by a machete to his back, legs and skull. He was also beaten and kicked.
“The Crown say that these two defendants were jointly responsible for that attack. They deny murder.
“It’s important that you know that these defendants are 12-years-old. It does not mean they are not responsible for their actions.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
