Teenage Black Country killer given 11-year minimum sentence for murdering Harvey Waterfield

The killer, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, murdered Harvey Waterfield when he plunged a knife into his back on March 16 this year.

The 19-year-old victim, from Wednesbury, was stabbed in a residential road in the Russells Hall area of Dudley.

Mr Waterfield had travelled with friends from Wednesbury to Dudley to meet another friend before they headed to Middlepark Road.

The group had visited a shop on Russells Hall Road to buy some refreshments when they saw a group who later confronted them, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Mr David Mason QC, prosecuting, said a member of the group – Connor Oakley – was clearly looking for trouble and confronted Mr Waterfield at around 6.30pm.

The 18-year-old defendant punched the victim and was involved in the disorder in Spring Pool Meadow alongside Christopher Halford, aged 28, and another 17-year-old boy, who was 16 at the time and also cannot be named.

Mr Waterfield tried to defend himself as he was punched and kicked before a knife was plunged into his back by the killer, Mr Mason QC added.

The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the efforts of members of the public and paramedics, at 7.10pm.

Aaron Oakley, another defendant, lied in an interview to the police in the aftermath of the attack as he claimed the 17-year-old accused of murder was with him and asleep on a sofa.

A victim impact statement written by Mr Waterfield's mother, and read out by his brother, said she constantly relives the image of seeing her son's body on the ground.

The family described him as being "so loved" and a "joy" with the act leaving them all "heartbroken" and Mr Waterfield's mother saying her son's death would just become another statistic.

'Not a statistic'

Judge Michael Chambers QC, sentencing, said: "This case involves tragic events which occurred on March 16 of this year in Dudley which culminated in a 19-year-old, Harvey Waterfield, losing his life violently and inexcusably.

"His mother speaks of Harvey Waterfield simply being recorded as another statistic, he is not a statistic. As was movingly written, he was a much-loved young man."

The killer, who had pleaded guilty to murder, was jailed for life with a minimum of 11 years and 273 days taking into account his time remanded in custody.

Michelle Heeley QC, defending, said her client had expressed "genuine remorse" by pleading guilty to murder and had never intended to kill the victim.

He received no further punishment in relation to possessing a bladed article.

Christopher Halford, 28, from Middlepark Road, Dudley, admitted violent disorder in connection with the attack and was jailed for 20 months.

Mr Phillip Bradley, defending Mr Halford, said the defendant was the only person who spoke during the interview with police and told officers "Harvey's family deserve justice".

Connor Oakley, 18, from Spring Pool Meadow, Dudley, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to two years in a Young Offenders Institute.

Lee Karu QC, defending Connor Oakley, said they did not dispute Connor had been the instigator but claimed it had been a "fist fight" before the murder occurred and that he had shown remorse for his actions.

The other 17-year-old, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, was handed a Youth Rehabilitation Order and will be under intensive supervision and surveillance for a period of two years.

Gurdeep Garcha QC, defending the teenager, said a few moments of "bad judgement" had led to the defendant's life to "change direction and turn upside down" – but said he had the "least role" in the disorder and had "he let himself down badly".

Halford, Connor Oakley and the second 17-year-old were all found not guilty of murder after the prosecution put forward no evidence.

Aaron Oakley, 41, of HMP Oakwood, had pleaded guilty at an earlier stage to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Mr Jollyon Robertson, defending, said Mr Oakley's sister had been ill, he had pleaded guilty to the charge and his information "did not alter" the investigation due to police being sceptical of it.