"Our whole world fell apart. We had to break the devastating news"
Sukhbir Singh Phull, aged 18, of Binley Road, Coventry, has been found guilty of murdering a football prospect.
He stabbed 16-year-old Ramani Morgan after a row at a house party in the Stoke area of Coventry.
The Birmingham schoolboy was found collapsed on Clay Lane by a member of the public and rushed to hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he died.
Warwick Crown Court heard that on February 29, 2020, Ramani and his girlfriend attended a house party in Chandos Street.
Phull was among those already there when he arrived.
However, things turned ugly and the guests were asked to leave, with an argument breaking out involving Ramani and Phull.
Ramani had been carrying a knuckle duster that night and used it on Phull before being stabbed.
One of the stab wounds pierced Ramani’s heart.
He was collapsed in nearby Clay Lane and taken to hospital but died of his injuries shortly before midnight.
Phull was arrested soon after and answered “no comment” in police interviews and was eventually charged with murder.
It was heard that Ramani had been at the academy with Aston Villa FC and had the potential to become a professional footballer.
On September 25, 2020, following a trial, Phull was convicted of murder.
A 17-year-old male who was also accused of Ramani’s murder, was found not guilty.
Ramani’s family said they had been left “broken” by their loss.
They described the football prospect as a “lively and popular boy” who “was very humble, always smiling, happy and joking around”.
His father Tyrone said: “Police attended our address just before midnight to tell us the dreadful news that Ramani had been stabbed. By the time we got to the hospital in Coventry, he had died.
“Our whole world fell apart. We had to break the devastating news to his four siblings, one older and three younger than him, and to his grandparents and many uncles, aunts and cousins.”
Coventry Telegraph reported that Phull will be sentenced at a later date, however, Tyrone said:
“In reality, justice cannot be done in this case. No sentence will ever be enough and nothing can bring Ramani back or ease our pain.”
“We do not want something like this to happen to another family. A clear message needs to be sent out so no other family should go through what we have gone through.
“Stiffer sentences need to be given by the courts as youngsters do not listen to messages or lessons given in school and there is no other deterrent to stop them carrying knives.”
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