Schoolboy, 15, jailed after killing 14-year-old in park then boasting about it
A teenage killer who stabbed a 14-year-old boy to death then boasted about it has been jailed today.
Leighton Amies, 15, butchered Tomasz Oleszak in the chest with a knife in a park in October 2022.
Amies shouted, "I've wetted your boy" at a gang after he knifed Tomasz, a court heard today.
After Amies was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court in April, Mr Justice Spencer lifted a ban on the media identifying the defendant, who was just 14 when he stabbed Tomasz, due to the seriousness of the crime and to deter teenagers from carrying knives.
The teenager will now serve 12 years in jail.
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The baby-faced killer will spend 12 years behind bars (Northumbria Police)Fighting back his tears, Mr Justice Martin Spencer said: "He was only 14. He had his whole life in front of him.
"The death of a child is something from which no parent can fully recover but I find the most poignant remark of all to be that from (Tomasz’s six-year-old brother), who exalted 'mum don’t cry so much, Tomasz would not want it'.
"For his sake as well as for your own, I hope you are able to move on in some measure from this tragedy. I’m sure I speak for everyone in this court in wishing you the very best for the future."
Northumbria Police issued a photo of the knife used by Amies (PA)
Amies made a knife slash on his jacket before killing Tomasz (PA)The defendant had denied murder, claiming he did not know he had stabbed Tomasz and slashed another youth's coat after he was attacked by the group in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
During the trial, jurors heard Amies was walking through Whitehills Nature Park with his girlfriend at about 8pm when a group of youths followed them.
He was carrying a serrated kitchen knife in his jacket pocket, which he had explained he picked up at home for "reassurance", and used it to slash Tomasz when he came under attack from a group.
Tributes are left for Tomasz at the entrance of the park (Newcastle Chronicle)Amies shouted to the gang, "I've wetted your boy" after landing the fatal blow, the court heard.
Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, told jurors: "He wanted them to know he had stabbed one of their number.
"It was a boast."
A victim impact statement from the boy's mother, Kamila Wisniewska, was read to the court.
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The schoolboy died in hospital hours after the attack (Chronicle Live)
Tomasz’s mother, Kamila Wisniewska, says the death 'utterly devastated' her family (Chronicle Live)Kamila said: "He was the most beautiful boy, with good manners and respect for life. Everyone loved his laugh and appreciated his kind, loving and helpful nature.
"I know, as a mother, my pain will never leave me. Not a day goes by I don’t cry.
"Not a day goes by that I don’t enter Tomasz’s room and pray to him.
"I keep imagining him lying on his bed playing his favourite XBox.
"His school things and belongings lie untouched."
Search teams conducted work at the park after the attack (Chronicle Live)Peter Makepeace KC, defending, told jurors that Amies had not looked for trouble, adding: "This is a 14-year-old under group attack and having to make terrible decisions under a moment's notice."
The jury also convicted Amies of a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm on the boy whose coat was slashed.
The defendant had previously admitted carrying a blade.
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