Boy gets life for PlayStation death

12 April 2012

A 16-year-old boy who murdered another boy of the same age in a row about a PlayStation has been locked up for life.

Shane Boyd stabbed Conor Black to death outside a house party in August last year.

Boyd, who had an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) imposed on him when he was just 12 and had breached it three times, is also understood to have a conviction for assaulting a police officer.

Judge Clement Goldstone QC, sitting at Manchester Crown Court, sentenced Boyd to life, to serve a minimum of 11 years before he can be considered for parole.

The court was told Conor and a group of friends were waiting outside the house party in Garnant Close, Moston, Manchester, when the attack took place in the early hours of August 16.

Boyd emerged from the house, hit Conor over the head with a beer can, produced a kitchen knife and stabbed him once in the back.

Conor stumbled away and collapsed. He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards at hospital.

Judge Goldstone told Boyd: "In truth you thought no more of having that knife in your pocket than you would a wallet or a house key. If you had been able to give the matter a moment's thought you would have realised that carrying and using that knife was no way to deal with a dispute about a Playstation.

"Will young people like you never learn that the public and the courts will not tolerate those who carry knives without care or concern for the consequences?"

The teenager, who is illiterate, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but this was rejected by the Crown.

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