'Offenders cannot escape justice by fleeing abroad' - Prosecutor speaks after killer jailed for stabbing teen to death
A senior prosecutor has welcomed a jail term of more than 22 years being handed down to a man who fled the country after fatally stabbing a Birmingham teenager.
Sekou Doucoure, who had moved the UK with his family from Spain in 2015, was fatally stabbed in Nursery Road, Hockley, on July 12 of 2022 during a violent confrontation between rival gangs from different areas of Birmingham which included Ishmael Farquharson, Pierre Thomas, who was then aged 18, and a youth who cannot be named because of his age.
A court heard Thomas twice fired a blank-firing handgun at Sekou, who fled. The three men then searched for Sekou. When Farquharson found him, a fight ensued during which he stabbed Sekou in the chest.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) worked closely with West Midlands Police, the National Crime Agency and Spanish authorities to build a compelling case against Farquharson using CCTV evidence and mobile phone data. Farquharson, aged 34, was found guilty of manslaughter on September 12 and jailed for 22 years at the city's crown court on Wednesday (September 17).
Senior Crown Prosecutor Douglas Marshall said: "Sekou Doucoure's death is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime, and today his killer has been brought to justice.
This case demonstrates that no matter how much time passes or how far suspects flee, the CPS will work with partners to bring offenders to justice. Farquharson may have thought distance and time would protect him, but this case shows that offenders cannot escape justice by fleeing abroad.
"Our thoughts remain with Sekou's family and loved ones, who have shown tremendous dignity throughout this lengthy legal process."
