Two more men jailed for student's stab murder

Two more men have been jailed for the murder of a 16-year-old student in Manchester, with the court hearing how one had also killed another man two days earlier through dangerous driving.

Shikeo Bell, 22, was sentenced to 18 years for helping murder Rhamero West following a car chase in the city in September 2021.

He was one of a group of people who pursued the 16-year-old on foot before Rhamero was stabbed to death in broad daylight in the Old Trafford area.

Manchester Crown Court heard Bell is currently in prison for causing the death of a motorcyclist in Moston.

Giovanni Lawrence, 24, who drove one of the cars which chased Rhamero, was also sentenced to a minimum of 15 years for his part in the murder.

Lawrence was a driver of one of the stolen BMW's that chased Rhamero's car through Moss Side and Old Trafford, the court heard.

He is the fourth man to be convicted of Rhamero's murder.

Marquis Richards and Ryan Cashin, who inflicted the fatal wounds with a machete, were previously found guilty of murder following a trial in 2022.

Lawrence was also convicted of the same offence in 2022 but successfully appealed against the decision, but has now been jailed following a retrial.

Mr Justice Julian Goose told Lawrence and Bell, who were sentenced together: "You intended serious harm to be caused to Rhamero West and his associates.

"This was a joint attack in which you both played a prominent role.

"You knew the knife was going to be taken and used to cause violence. This was a sustained attack in full view of the public."

Speaking about Rhamero's family, he said: "To lose a son in such violent circumstances has caused them intolerable grief. And two trials made it worse."

Rhamero, who was the nephew of former Manchester City and England footballer Shuan Wright-Phillips, had just finished his first day at college when he was attacked.

He was driving a stolen BMW with friends when two other cars sped past them.

While stationary in traffic, Richards approached from another stolen BMW and lunged at Rhamero with a large knife several times.

Jurors were told Rhamero tried to get away but crashed his car into a tree before he and his friends ran off towards the Old Trafford area.

Richards and Cashin then got out of their vehicles and gave chase.

Rhamero, known to many as Mero, tried to escape by banging on doors for help.

He attempted to hide in a garden but Cashin found him, shouting "got you", before stabbing him several times, the court heard.

Cashin, Richards, Lawrence and Bell fled.

Rhamero was found on Norton Street in Old Trafford and taken to hospital but later died.

Lawrence remained on the run for several months before he was arrested by police in Cheshire.

The court was told how, just two days before his involvement in the murder of Rhamero, Bell had killed another man as a result of his dangerous driving.

Carl Dawson, 43, was knocked off his motorbike in Moston as Bell chased him in a car. Bell was later jailed after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Speaking at the sentencing, Rhamero's mother Kelly Brown read a statement about he impact on their family.

She said the murderers had "hunted my son down like a pack of wolves".

"There is an emptiness that will never heal," she said.

"I see no remorse from any of the defendants whatsoever. I never got to celebrate his 18th birthday.

"Last Christmas was the first time I've put up the tree since his death. Mero always liked me to decorate the tree. Every decoration reminded me of him.

"A large part of me died with Rhamero."

She said that "justice has been served", adding: "Thank you to the amazing team behind me for all their hard work and for all their continued support through both trials.

"I am forever grateful. Now my baby boy can rest in eternal peace and we as a family can begin the healing process."

She has previously condemned her son's killers for "giggling and smirking in the dock".

Investigators said they spoke to hundreds of witnesses in what prosecutors described as a "complex case" in which phone location data, CCTV footage and forensic evidence was used to pinpoint where each of the defendants were at specific times.

Det Insp Paul Davies said: "Bell and Lawrence were part of a vicious group attack which saw Rhamero West pursued and chased down in what would have been a terrifying few minutes before his death.

"Today's result means four people have now been convicted of Rhamero's murder, and I am glad that we have managed to secure justice for him and his family."

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