'I think about his last moments and how scared he must have been' - Family of Wolverhampton teen slain by schoolboys
The devastated family of a 19-year-old who was murdered on a playing field by two schoolboys with a machete say their hearts "continually break" in the wake of his death.
The murderers, who are both from Wolverhampton and are now aged 13, were in court on Thursday to hear about the impact their fatal attack on beloved teenager Shawn Seesahai in November last year had on his devastated family.
Mr Seesahai was attacked by the two youths on Stowlawn playing fields in Bilston. In a brutal machete attack that lasted seconds, he was left with severe wounds including a 23cm-deep cut.
Both boys were found guilty of his murder earlier this year. They have both also been convicted of possessing a bladed article.
A victim impact statement from Mr Seesahai's family was read aloud to a packed courtroom on Thursday, the first day of a complex sentencing exercise for his two young killers.
"We as a family are struggling in so many ways since Shawn was taken from us, especially in the horrific circumstances in which he was taken.
"Losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare.
"We are devastated, totally heartbroken and confused."
The statement also said that for the family to properly convey how much they had been affected by Shawn's murder would take up the entire day and more.
The Seesahai family was tight-knit and Shawn was especially close to his younger sister, the statement said. She did not eat or leave her bed in the days after his death and was devastated to lose her brother.
"I wonder if she will ever be the same again", the statement said.
"None of us have had an unbroken night's sleep since Shawn was taken from us.
"Every time I close my eyes, all I can think about are what his last moments were and how scared he must have been.
"It continually breaks my heart.
'No-one expects to bury their own child'
"As well as the emotional and mental anguish we are going through, we have also suffered financially. No-one expects to have to bury their own child.
"We were not prepared for this. In order to repatriate Shawn's body back home from the UK, we had to use all of our savings. In order to then fly back to the UK to attend the trial we had to take out a loan to fund flights and accommodation.
"The impact on us as a family is devastating. It's hard to believe that we will ever come to terms with what has happened.
"We will never get to see Shawn get married or have a family of his own. All of these things have been taken from us for what appears to be no reason at all.
"Shawn was a very loving child to us. He was very helpful and hardworking. He loved to help out his dad in construction.
"He always aimed to get what he wanted in the future. He was a humble person and his personality was unique. He loved to help others and he was always confident.
"He was very honest and he cared about his family deeply. He was a brave soul. He was generous and compassionate.
"We will always miss him. He will never be replaced by anyone because he is irreplaceable.
"We will always love Shawn and he will always have a special place in our hearts."
'He wishes he hadn't taken the machete out with him'
Lawyers for the two murderers also addressed the judge.
Rachel Brand KC, mitigating for the younger of the two boys, said the boy had been exploited by older men into criminal activity, and "wishes" he had not taken the weapon to the playing field that day.
"This crime was not premeditated. That, we submit, is a very important feature."
She said he is "immature when compared to others of the same age" and said he "lacked foresight of the consequences of his actions".
"He lacked, as a child, the ability to regulate his behaviour the same way that adults do.
"He wishes he hadn't taken the machete out with him. He wishes they hadn't gone to the park - he wishes this hadn't happened.
"He does have some grasp of the loss felt by Shawn Seesahai's family.
"It is clear that [he] was a vulnerable child and remains a vulnerable child for a number of reasons.
"Some of those reasons lie in his background, other reasons are that he had been groomed, exploited and trafficked by older men in the wider community.
"All of the evidence you have makes it clear that he was being exploited by those older than him."
She said he was not provided with "the consistent role model that he clearly needs".
"He was ignoring the wise counsel of adults around him.
"He was too immature and too much under the influence of malign influences within the wider community to listen to the wise counsel."
She said that in the time he has spent in a secure custody unit since he and his co-defendant murdered Shawn Seesahai, he has made "very positive progress".
"He's developed consistent, trusting and supportive relationships with staff in that unit who he sees on a daily basis. He's doing well, both in terms of his education and his behaviour.
"There can be optimism that [his] behaviour can be turned around."
She has asked the judge to give her defendant the shortest possible minimum jail term to give him "hope".
The defendants were arrested on November 14, the day after they attacked Shawn. 315 of the days they have spent in custody since then will be taken into account when they are sentenced.
'The prospects of rehabilitation in the future are excellent'
Paul Lewis KC, representing the older of the two boys, said the fatal attack would not have happened if the younger boy had not confronted Mr Seesahai on the playing field in Bilston.
"This incident could not and would not have happened but for [the younger boy]. It was he who took the knife out that night, it was he who habitually carried one, it was he and not [the older boy] that was involved in any initial confrontation at the bench.
"The incident could not and would not have occurred but for his behaviour."
About the older of the two murderers, he said: "Since his remand into local authority care, his behaviour has been nothing short of admirable.
"All the evidence in his case... suggests, we respectfully submit, that the prospects of rehabilitation in this case in the future are excellent.
"This was a one-off incident that was over in seconds, not premeditated, with admittedly tragic results, and he's been in no trouble since.
"We submit that... there can be a significant reduction in the [custody] starting point in his case."
Thursday's hearing concluded at around 12.45pm and both defendants were returned to custody. They will be brought back to the court tomorrow when they are due to receive their sentences from the Honourable Mrs Justice Tipples.