Teen knife murder: 'I can hardly stand the pain'

The family of a boy murdered by another teenager have said the sentence imposed on the killer is not enough to deter others from knife crime.

Rahaan Ahmed Amin was 16 when he was stabbed with a ninja-style sword in the summer of 2023.

A 17-year-old boy has been given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 15 years, following his conviction at the Old Bailey in May.

Mr Amin's sister Shanaya Ali said it "sends a message that teenagers could get away with murder”.

The court heard the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, had a troubled childhood, including witnessing domestic violence.

Judge Alexia Durran told him she noted his minimum term was “a little less than the time you have been alive".

There were shouts and swearing from the public gallery in the Old Bailey as he was taken down.

Ms Ali used the same phrase as the judge in reaction to the sentence: “That’s less time than my brother was alive.”

She previously broke down in court as she read out her victim impact statement, saying: “I can hardly stand the pain at times.

“Rahaan was kind and compassionate, he was very loving and caring."

She said the “scar of his murder” would always be with his family.

Speaking to me before the sentencing hearing, Ms Ali said: "When I think about my brother, he's smiling. He loved making people laugh.

"He was looking forward to doing everything a teenager would do, he was looking forward to his future."

West Ham Park was where Rahaan was attacked, on the afternoon of 9 July 2023.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was a stab wound to his heart.

Police recovered the murder weapon hidden in a tree in the park.

They also uncovered a Snapchat photo of nine knives lined up on the defendant’s bed, one of which looked like the red sword used in the killing.

It's clear Ms Ali finds it hard to talk about her brother's death, but she explains she wants to send a message about the devastating impact of knife crime.

"There are so many things we can't do now, like listen to the songs that he used to listen to, or even things that he used to joke around with, because it triggers us.

"I can't go past West Ham Park any more. I can't go into his room. It's too silent, it's too quiet."

Det Ch Insp Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, tells me it was a "shocking" and "extraordinary" display.

"That posing of the knives, that showing everyone what weapons he had, was a key part to understanding him as a person. It really was shocking to see someone so young have so many weapons.

"Seeing it so posed and glorified is perhaps something we are seeing more of now. It's a status symbol, unfortunately."

Scotland Yard said an identical red knife to the weapon used in the killing had been ordered through the online shop DNA Leisure in the weeks before the attack, on 12 June.

The Old Bailey heard that three online orders had been placed using a passport belonging to the father of one of the defendant’s friends, who told police he had no knowledge of the purchase.

The last order was made with the defendant’s home as the delivery address.

Det Ch Insp Allen warned parents to keep an eye on their identification documents, and also on what their children are doing online.

Last month, new legislation made it an offence to own, make, transport or sell zombie knives and machetes, although it does not cover ninja or samurai swords.

The government has said it intends to introduce laws that will ban those weapons too, as part of a promise to halve knife crime in a decade.

Det Ch Insp Allen said she welcomed tougher legislation.

"The more we can remove dangerous weapons from the streets, and take them away from children, I think that's something everyone should support."

Ahead of the new legislation, DNA Leisure surrendered 1,542 knives.

It previously told the BBC it had made a "commercial decision" to stop selling "bladed articles" on its website from 13 June.

"Our plan is to go further than the ban coming into effect this summer and stop selling bladed items altogether, but we can only do this once we have sold all our stock."

DNA Leisure said it was trying to sell its remaining items to an overseas buyer.

However, a number of knives and swords are still currently on sale on the website.

The online trader said it had "no plans to restock any current bladed items".

Shanaya Ali told me she remained concerned about the culture that leads to young people carrying knives.

"A lot of people have a reputation to live up to, or they're trying to build one; they're trying to fit into communities, or they're trying to be accepted.

"Weapons are not something you should be playing around with. Either you're hurting someone or you're going to get hurt."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to [email protected]