Shock Ben Morutare film shown to prevent more tragedy

CCTV footage shows the final moments of the tragic schoolboy who was knifed while trying to protect a friend during a night of violence at a birthday party in Smethwick in July last year.

Andy Ly, from Ladywood, Birmingham, has admitted the manslaughter of the teenager who was killed by a single stab wound to the leg outside the Smethwick Home Guard and Old Comrades Club.

A further five men have also been convicted of or admitted to crimes which include violent disorder and possession of a weapon in connection with the death.

See also: Moment killer took life of Walsall teenager Ben Morutare revealed

And today Detective Inspector Gary Plant from the force's Major Investigation Review Team, said Ben's family had made the brave step to allow footage from the night to be released.

The footage had been shown to the jury during the two-month trial, showing a huge gang of yobs who tower over the diminutive figure of 5ft 2ins Ben advancing towards him before killer Ly attacks.

DI Plant said: "The weight of evidence against these men, from witnesses and CCTV, was significant and Ben's family have agreed to some of those shocking scenes to be shared in a bid to deter others from becoming involved in similar unnecessary violence."

Ben's mother, Grace Morutare, paid tribute to her son saying the fact the family will never see Ben again was the 'most painful and unbearable thought'.

During the case, the investigation team trawled through hours of CCTV footage from the club and surrounding area to provide evidence for the trial.

CCTV footage and still images of the violence included footage specially enhanced, and lightened, by the FBI which captured the moment Ly attacked Ben in Chatwin Street.

Ben, of Holden Crescent, Coalpool, was among an estimated 300 youngsters who had packed into the club on Oldbury Road after the joint birthday party was advertised on Facebook.

On the fateful night a fight broke out between Ben's friends and a group of youths.

One of Ben's friends was chased the length of Fenton Street and into St Paul's Road, where he was assaulted and robbed of his bag.

While some of the group were chasing the youngster, others turned their attention on Ben, chasing the Zimbabwe-born teen across the car park of the Asian Family Support Service and into Chatwin Street. Witnesses claimed up to 80 men chased him.

One witness told the court he saw Ben on the ground being punched and kicked by a man believed to be Ly.

He was found on grass nearby with a stab wound to his upper thigh, which severed a main artery and he later died at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Police said the teenager ultimately bled to death.

The Old Comrades Club has since been demolished.

DI Plant has paid tribute to witnesses who came forward to help the police investigation and described the case as a 'despicable crime' and a 'tragic and unnecessary loss of life'. Ly, 18, of Fulmer Walk, Ladywood, had a plea of manslaughter accepted, despite having been on trial for murder for five weeks.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of violent disorder.

Omar Robinson, 19, of Rann Close, Ladywood, admitted violent disorder. He was also on trial for murder, but eventually told by the judge that he had no case to answer.

Tahj Mills, aged 18, of Waterside Street, West Bromwich, and Jordan Campbell, 18, of Portland Road, Edgbaston, were both convicted of violent disorder.

Tobias Blake, 20, of Kelsall Croft, Ladywood, was found guilty of one charge of having an offensive weapon and violent disorder.

Dale Reid, 18, of Rodney Close, Birmingham, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder before the trial.

Kwamae Phillips, aged 18, from Edgbaston and Aaron Parkins, aged 19, whose address cannot be reported for legal reasons, have been found not guilty of violent disorder.

Sentencing is expected to take place on September 20.