A 15-year-old boy has received a life detention order for stabbing a man to death in Chingford last year.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged 14 when he stabbed 45-year-old Jamie Markham on August 9, 2021.
Additionally, the youth was subject to an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) at the time, which he had breached six times prior to the stabbing.
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At a trial at the Old Bailey held in July, the youth claimed to have acted in self-defence, but was found guilty of murder and having an offensive weapon.
Today (October 7), Judge John Hillen ordered the boy to be detained for life with a minimum term of 15 years.
#Breaking A 15-year-old boy has been detained for life at the Old Bailey for a minimum term of 15 years for fatally stabbing father-of-three Jamie Markham pic.twitter.com/hBydfuqIjV
— PA Media (@PA) October 7, 2022
In a statement, Judge Hillen said: "You had not responded to attempts to divert you away from crime and antisocial behaviour.
“You regularly went missing. You have a low attendance record at school.
“Your foster parents could not prevent your behaviour. You were out of control.”
He went on: “Your unhealthy interest in knives, antisocial behaviour and violence against those who challenged you all came together on Chingford Mount on August 9 last year.”
Mr Markham's mother Anita addressed the defendant, saying: "On August 9 2021 you stabbed my son Jamie Markham three times and murdered him.
“You had nothing to say, not even ‘sorry, I did not mean it to happen’.
“You could not say it was an accident as you stabbed him three times. Taking my son’s life has broken me."
She added: “Jamie is in my thoughts all the time, seeing him lying there knowing I could not patch him up like when he was a kid.
“Wanting so much to help him, bring him back to us. You can never replace a child.
“When Candice (Mr Markham’s partner) phoned and told me Jamie had been stabbed I had never thought that would be it and I would never be able to give him a hug and a kiss.”
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