Chilling footage shows schoolboy Leo Ross’s killer returning to scene

A teenage murderer who ‘hunted’ for a victim before stabbing a 12-year-old boy to death was captured on chilling footage returning to the scene and brazenly chatting with police.

The youth pretended to be a witness after schoolboy Leo Ross had been taken to hospital where he would later die from a stomach wound he inflicted in a ‘completely random and unprovoked’ attack.

Leo’s killer, who was 14 at the time, did not know or take anything from him and was said by detectives to simply enjoy watching the ‘chaos of his actions unfold’.

He came across Leo after a failed attempt to target a lone female in Shire Country Park in the Hall Green area of Birmingham on January 21 last year.

Detective Inspector Joe Davenport said: ‘He continued to ride his bike around the park and the pattern of behaviour that emerged, looking back at other offences, it would appear that he was hunting for another victim.

‘After he tried to assault the first female, he then comes across Leo Ross.’

Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy pupil Leo was described as an ‘amazing, kind, loving’ boy in a statement by his family after his death.

DI Davenport said: ‘By all accounts, Leo was a lovely boy who had never been involved with the police before, no bad reports from school or anything like that, no record that he was in trouble with anyone or had any kinds of disagreements with anyone at all.

‘In particular, he didn’t know the boy involved and they had never had any kind of disagreement or met each other before, so it was a completely random and unprovoked attack.

‘It would appear the boy involved has approached Leo and stabbed him once to the stomach and caused him a catastrophic injury which he couldn’t survive.’

After attacking him, the boy threw the knife into the nearby River Cole and then alerted a passer-by to Leo lying injured as if he had come across the scene and was an ‘innocent member of the public’.

DI Davenport said: ‘He’s then seen on officers’ body-worn footage, when the emergency services arrived, loitering in the background watching what’s going on, and that seems to be his pattern of behaviour – he likes to watch the chaos of his own actions unfold and enjoys seeing the consequences of what he’s done.’

Body-worn video shows him telling a male officer: ‘I was probably here around about three. I just come out every now and again and ride my bike.’

Telling the officer he was intending to ride towards a mechanic’s shop in the local area, the killer added: ‘I was gonna come through here ‘cos that leads that way.’

Referring to a woman who had contacted the police, the youth, who cannot be named because of his age, added: ‘I seen him and I seen this woman – she was walking down so I told her to call you guys.

‘Then I went to get some help from different people, and that’s all I know about it.

‘He was laid there like that when I got here, and that’s all I know about it.’

After being asked if he had seen anyone near Leo, the youth added: ‘I’ve seen him and then as I was looking… I didn’t touch him because that could put me in the case.

‘But I’ve seen her (a female passer-by) – she was walking there. So then I came and told her to call the police.’

The youth, whose voice has been disguised on the footage to protect his identity, gave his details to police during the encounter and was later arrested after being linked to the killing and other offences.

He pleaded guilty to murder, as well as two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Judge Paul Farrer KC said sentencing would be set for February 10 and would likely last the full day.

He told the defendant: ‘I can’t sentence you today for a number of reasons. You will be sentenced on the 10th of February and you will be brought from wherever you are being kept to Birmingham where you can speak to your lawyers.

‘In the meantime you are remanded into youth detention.’

The defendant, who wore grey tracksuit bottoms with a black t-shirt and a grey jumper draped over his shoulders, said yes when he was asked if he understood.

Speaking after the hearing, Jonathan Roe, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘This was a senseless act of violence that has devastated a family and robbed a 12-year-old boy of his life.

‘Leo Ross should have had his whole future ahead of him, and he should have been able to walk home from school without harm.

‘It seems unimaginable that a 14-year-old would use a knife to intend to murder another or seriously injure them causing their death, but that is what occurred on that day.

‘The defendant’s guilty plea today means Leo’s loved ones have at least been spared the ordeal of a trial. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss.

‘There are no excuses for carrying a knife and I hope this case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of carrying and using knives.’

In a statement released through West Midlands Police, Leo’s foster family said: ‘Not a day goes by where we don’t think about Leo. His loss has impacted us deeply and his absence is felt constantly.

‘Leo was the sweetest, kindest boy who put others before himself. He was loved by all that knew him, he made friends with everyone he met, young or old.

‘He was wise beyond his years, full of knowledge and facts, full of life. A life cut short by a senseless act.

‘We hope justice is served and we can get some closure, whatever the outcome, it still does not give Leo his life back, the life he truly deserved to live to its fullest.’

Leo’s birth mother, Rachel Fisher, added: ‘My son Leo was the sweetest, most kind-hearted boy. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.

‘My baby’s life was stolen for no reason whatsoever.

‘My life will never be the same again without him. He will be loved and missed forever.’

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