"We are no longer living, just existing. We miss him so much."
Adam Muhammad, aged 17, of Birmingham, was jailed on June 14, 2019, for a minimum of 14 years and three months after he murdered fellow student Hazrat Umar.
Muhammad attacked the 18-year-old with a “Rambo-style” knife in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on February 25, 2019.
Mr Umar was stabbed 15 times in the “frenzied and unprovoked” ambush.
The court heard that Muhammad “held a grudge” after Mr Umar “insulted and slapped him” and briefly took his phone.
Initially, the defendant could not be named for legal reasons but he was named after reporting restrictions were lifted.
Muhammad was walking along Norwood Green, Bordesley Green, when he pulled out the knife and attacked Hazrat, who was walking up ahead.
Mr Umar struggled and attempted to reason with Muhammad, but his injuries caused him to fall down.
Muhammad then stamped on his head before picking up the knife and leaving the scene.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and tried to save Hazrat, however, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Minutes after the attack, Muhammad approached a member of the public asking for water to wash the blood off his hands.
He later went to the hospital with his family, claiming he had been robbed by armed men.
Medical professionals noted his injuries did not match up with his story and he was arrested later that evening.
Meanwhile, a post mortem revealed that Mr Umar was stabbed 15 times, but one stab wound to the heart proved to be fatal.
The court heard that on the day of the attack, Muhammad was expected to sit an exam but he turned up late and failed to return at 2 pm, around the time Hazrat was attacked.
Muhammad initially denied the charge but later pleaded guilty to murder on June 13, 2019.
Police believe the teenager changed his plea “because of the strength of the case against him”.
The family of Hazrat Umar said: “Even though the crime was committed by someone else, it is us serving the life sentence without our son.
“Each day is torture and lonely. During this trial, I have hoped my son will re-appear.
“We are no longer living, just existing. We miss him so much.”
Judge Francis Laird QC explained that Muhammad had “sought revenge” against his classmate at South and City College Birmingham.
He said: “I am sure that from the moment [the defendant] left college that afternoon he planned to carry out an attack on Mr Umar with the knife once they were relatively secluded.”
Adam Muhammad was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 14 years and three months.
Detective Inspector Michelle Allen from West Midlands Police said:
“This was a tragic case where a young man lost his life in the most brutal way and highlights the shocking reality of teenagers carrying knives.
“A young boy felt the need to arm himself with a deadly weapon and used it to viciously attack another teenager.”
“Hazrat sadly died that day and the defendant will face years behind bars, proving that there are no winners of knife crime.
“His family will never be able to come to terms with what happened that day, but I hope that this outcome will provide them with some comfort.”
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