Two teenage boys, who were just 12 years old when they took a man's life with a machete, have been sentenced to life imprisonment. This morning, on September 27, they were handed their sentences for the murder of Shawn Seesahai.

During their trial at the Nottingham Crown Court, the now 13-year-old boys blamed each other for the crime. However, both were found guilty of the murder of 19-year-old Mr. Seesahai in Wolverhampton.

Anguilla-born Mr. Seesahai was fatally stabbed in the heart and suffered a skull fracture on Wolverhampton’s Stowlawn playing fields on November 13 of last year. During the month-long trial, it was disclosed that the smaller of the two defendants, who often carried a machete with a 42.5cm-long blade, had shoulder-barged Mr. Seesahai.

Following the initial assault, Mr. Seesahai was punched, kicked, stamped on, and struck with the machete. His friend testified that he had to run for his life, but Mr. Seesahai stumbled while trying to escape from the boys.

The two defendants are considered the youngest in Britain to be convicted of murder since 1993, when Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both aged 11, were found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. These boys are believed to be the youngest to have committed a murder using a knife.

Shawn Seesahai’s family provided a statement in court describing the murder as tragic, unexpected, and senseless. They expressed their immense grief and struggle since losing their beloved son and brother.

“Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare. The impact on our lives is indescribable and would take more than a day to detail. We are completely heartbroken and confused,” they stated.

The presiding judge, Mrs Justice Tipples, noted that there was little precedent for this case before sentencing the boys to life imprisonment. They will serve a minimum term of eight years and six months.