"Sidali's death has left a huge void in our family."
Teenager Laoui Ali, aged 17, of Highgate, Birmingham, was found guilty of murder on July 12, 2019, at Birmingham Crown Court.
He stabbed Sidali Mohamed in the chest outside a Joseph Chamberlain College in Birmingham on February 13, 2019.
The court was shown CCTV of Ali travelling by bus from his home to the college.
It showed him getting off the bus and heading to the side of the college where he put a mask on.
Ali then hung around outside the college gates as he waited for 16-year-old Sidali.
As Sidali left college, he passed Ali and went to his friends before heading back towards Ali.
The two exchanged words before Ali lunged forward and punched Sidali. He then stabbed him in front of other students.
Sidali got away and collapsed inside the college grounds where staff tried to save him. He was taken to the hospital, however, he died of his injuries two days later.
Ali, who was an aspiring boxer, was on bail for another wounding that had taken place in Highgate in December 2018. He and an accomplice stabbed a man in the arm as he walked down the street.
A jury found the teenager guilty of murder. Ali was also found guilty of stabbing another student during the same incident, but he was cleared of stabbing a security guard.
Ali was found guilty of the wounding incident in December and possession of an offensive weapon. But he was found not guilty of making threats with an offensive weapon relating to the December incident.
Ali’s identity was not initially revealed but reporting restrictions were lifted. The teenager faces life imprisonment when he is sentenced on July 15, 2019.
Sidali’s family said in a statement: Sidali was an amazing son, brother, cousin, nephew and a fantastic friend. Sidali was an ambitious young man with his whole life ahead of him. Sidali’s death has left a huge void in our family.
“We hope this conviction will serve as a lesson to those young people who are involved in knife crime. Sidali will always be remembered as our happy little boy who brought joy and happiness amongst his family and friends.
“Sidali will always remain in our hearts and his legacy will live on.”
Superintendent Edward Foster led the investigation said:
“Ali was already on bail after he was involved in a stabbing in December, but still chose to carry a knife.
“It is always a choice to carry a knife and I cannot stress enough the dangers and implications it can have.”
“In this case, that decision on both occasions has ruined many people’s lives and traumatised many young people who witnessed a truly horrific attack.
“My thoughts remain with Sidali’s family and friends at this difficult time.
“West Midlands Police is committed to working to deter young people from carrying knives and have recently launched Project Guardian which is aimed at educating young people and combatting youth violence.
“As a force, we cannot prevent youth violence alone. We need parents, community leaders, schools and young people themselves to pass on the message that it is never okay to carry or use a knife.”
See CCTV footage of the shocking incident
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