Teenager Sentenced for Murder of Schoolboy in Birmingham Attack

A teenager has been sentenced to a minimum of 13 years for the unprovoked murder of a 12-year-old boy in Birmingham. The perpetrator, Kian Moulton, now 15 years old, fatally stabbed Leo Ross as the latter was returning home from school on January 21, 2022. Moulton was 14 at the time of the attack, which took place near the River Cole.

During the sentencing, Mr Justice Choudhury KC stated that Moulton would be under license for life, meaning he could remain in custody until he is at least 27 years old. The judge described Leo as “an innocent boy” with a promising future, highlighting the horror of the crime. He remarked, “What you did last January was horrific and shocking. You chose people weaker and smaller than you.”

In court, it was revealed that Moulton had a troubling history, including previous violent behavior. Just days prior to the murder, he attempted to drown an 82-year-old woman and had terrorized two other elderly individuals.

Chilling bodycam footage released by the police shows Moulton at the murder scene, where he falsely claimed to have discovered Leo injured. He then misled officers into believing he had alerted others, demonstrating a lack of remorse. According to West Midlands Police, Moulton appeared to take pleasure in the chaos caused by his actions.

The court heard of Moulton’s difficult upbringing, which included exposure to domestic abuse and minimal contact with his mother since the age of four. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) at a young age, he displayed behavioral issues early on. Psychiatrists concluded he suffered from a severe conduct disorder, although this did not absolve him of responsibility for his actions.

A disturbing note found in his cell revealed Moulton’s admission to the crime: “I’m not going to lie. I will hold my hands up and say that I done it. I stabbed him. Lower right stomach.”

Leo’s father, Chris Ross, delivered a poignant victim impact statement in court, recounting the profound loss his family has endured. He expressed the devastation of having to inform his daughter that her brother would never return home. “Your horrendous act has destroyed me,” he told Moulton. “The sleepless nights are too frequent to count, the nightmares and endless tears will not stop any time soon.”

Chris described Leo as the “kindest little boy” who brought joy to those around him. He reflected on the heartache of knowing that his son was alone during the attack, stating, “It breaks my heart to think Leo was alone and I wasn’t there to protect him.”

The judge’s comments underscored the gravity of Moulton’s actions, which resulted in a life sentence for Leo’s family, who will forever feel the absence of their beloved son.