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Life for the thug who plunged 5in blade in boy's skull
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent6 Nov 2008
A TEENAGE thug who left a five-inch blade embedded in a schoolboy's skull was locked up for life today.
Yassin Elmansouri, 17, was convicted of attempted murder and stabbing two other youths outside a Tesco store in the Old Kent Road, Walworth, in November last year.
X-ray images showed how a 15-year-old, named only as Ahmed, was stabbed through the forehead with the bendy kitchen knife.
The blade embedded in his brain but he survived and enrolled for a college course 10 months later. Had anyone tried to pull it out he would have died.
Judge Colin Smith sentenced Elmansouri at Inner London crown court to life detention and ordered he serve a minimum of seven years before his earliest possible release. He will remain on licence for life.
The judge said: "Despite your youth and lack of previous convictions I have to regard your conviction for the attempted murder of Ahmed as an extremely grave offence.
"The circumstances graphically illustrate the consequences which can follow from the production and use of a knife and the catastrophic effect such a crime can have on a victim."
Ahmed, who is now 16, had tried to stop his friends being robbed by Elmansouri and two others.
He was taken to Guy's Hospital with the blade still lodged in his skull. Only the skill of surgeons saved his life and last month he admitted he was "lucky to be alive". One of his friends was stabbed twice in the back and another was wounded in the shoulder.
Elmansouri dropped his hat and mobile phone when fleeing the scene. The items were recovered and forensic testing linked them to him. He was arrested at his south London home in December.
Elmansouri had denied attempted murder and two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
He was given concurrent terms of three and a half years for the two GBH counts. Detectives are still hunting the other two attackers.
In a statement read to the court Ahmed described how the horrific attack had left him fearful and unable to enjoy the sports he had once loved.
"The attack has made me more paranoid, and more wary about being in a similar situation again," he said.
"I am not able to play sport, or run around as I could before."
Reader views (14)
I dont understand how jane from tower hamlets' comment relates to the story?
- Natasha, Adelaide, South Australia, 12/12/2008 05:12
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Because seven yrs is really life. When will the powers-that-be leave their gated and protected dwellings, and realise that this namby pamby, politically correct approach to dealing with real criminals (not those that refuse to pay their council tax increases) isn't dragging this country into the gutter, has already dragged us into it.
- Scott, London, 07/11/2008 09:06
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Please will some one enlighten me in what way does multiculturalism benefit our society.
- Jane, Tower Hamlets, England., 07/11/2008 09:02
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Did I read this correctly? He stabbed two other people before leaving a 5inch knife embedded in a boy's skull and could serve a minimum of only 7 years???? He was sentenced to life detention, which should mean life, to keep this type of person off the streets. Presumably if the other 2 are ever caught they will get off with community service and be able to continue to terrorise the local area. When will the justice system in this country wake up to the concerns of law abiding citizens and really give punishment to fit the crime? I would imagine that Ahmed must be dreading the day in 7 years time when this guy might be walking the streets again!!!
- Tom, London, 07/11/2008 08:55
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Wow he is gruesome isn't he.Seriously though how can a life sentence be described as a minimum of 7 yrs?Life should mean life,IE never released till hes in his box.I really don't believe the authorities have any intention or any inclination to do anything about the horrendously high crime rate in the UK.It serves them well to have a society divided and living in fear behind closed doors.A fearful and divided population is a controlled and compliant population.
- Kev, London, 07/11/2008 08:31
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Life = 7 years????
- C Adams, pont l abbé france., 07/11/2008 08:22
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"A TEENAGE thug who left a five-inch blade embedded in a schoolboy's skull was locked up for life today."- NO HE WASN'T; he was given a life sentence with a tariff of just seven years before he can apply for parole.
He WILL be out of prison in seven years from now, if not less.
He was also give two other seven year sentences, but they will all run concurrently. This is yet another farcical episode in the history of our Criminal InJustice syatem.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 07/11/2008 02:25
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I do think we need more immigration from Asia and Africa
- Bronek Mockler, London England, 07/11/2008 00:19
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7 years is just not enough for what Elmansouri did, not just to Ahmed but also the two friends he also stabbed that night. 14 years - easily achievable if the GBH sentences ran consecutively rather than concurrently - would mean he wouldn't get out until his 30s, by which time he might have calmed down a bit. I hope the CPS appeals against this unduly lenient sentence, which is inadequate both as punishment and deterrent.
- Austen, London, 06/11/2008 21:57
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Good- lock em up throw away the key
- Barry Pomeroy, United Kingdom, 06/11/2008 21:07
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This is what too much freedom brings.
bring back spanking and the cane.
whenever i see these thugs,i cross the stret and walk in the crowded area.
all 16 yr old should be drafted to the military.
- Nouna, london, 06/11/2008 19:24
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I grew up near the Old Kent Road in the sixties. I don't remember the Elmansouri family though, though everyone knew everyone. Did they move into the area recently from somewhere else - Croydon maybe? Or Tooting? I think we should be told.
- Mike Collins, London, UK, 06/11/2008 18:35
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So 'life' is seven years according to goverment mathmeticians.
Pretty much shows how the population is valued.
- Frank H., London., 06/11/2008 17:46
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Sorry.... am I missing something here? The headline shouts 'Life for Thug' etc, yet, and I quote,it is recommended that '..he serve a minimum of seven years before his earliest possible release'.
No wonder we have a lawless society. Scum like this guy Elmansouri should be locked up for a minimum 30 years. He'll probably be out by the time he is 24 for goodness sake...!!!! How I despise the liberal do-gooders of yester-year whose policies have left us picking up the pieces.
- Tom, london, 06/11/2008 16:54
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