Appeal to review killer's 15-year jail sentence

The Attorney General has been asked to consider whether the sentence handed down to a man involved in the fatal stabbing of a Leeds teenager was too lenient.

Ranei Wilks, 23, was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of the manslaughter of 18-year-old Jamie Meah in March 2023.

Wilks, who was cleared of murder, was also convicted of a charge of wounding another teenager with intent to cause GBH following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said the sentence had been referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

"We have received a request for this sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme," they said.

"The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision."

During Wilks' trial the court heard Mr Meah was stabbed to death and a 16-year-old boy was seriously injured when they were dragged out of a taxi by a gang of men in Armley

Jurors heard that four suspects left the UK after the killing, but Wilks was arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport after flying back from Turkey in April 2024.

West Yorkshire Police said three other men wanted in connection with Mr Meah's death – Caleb Awe, Aquade Jeffers and Enham Nishat - remained at large.

In his evidence, Wilks told the trial he had been in a car with three other men but never left the vehicle during the attack on Mr Meah and another boy.

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