The two young boys responsible for the fatal stabbing of Shawn Seesahai in a Wolverhampton park a year ago have had their sentences increased by the Court of Appeal in London.
Originally sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years and six months, the boys—aged 12 at the time of the murder and now 13—will now serve minimum terms of ten years. Due to their age, the identities of the boys remain undisclosed in compliance with legal protections.
In June, at Nottingham Crown Court, both juveniles denied murder charges but were subsequently convicted of Shawn’s killing. Today’s ruling by the Court of Appeal deemed their initial sentences unduly lenient, leading to the adjustment.
Shawn’s family released a heartfelt statement following the decision:
“We recognize that justice has been served today for the murder of our beloved son, Shawn, and we welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase the sentences of those responsible from eight-and-a-half to ten years.
Shawn’s life was taken in a brutal and senseless act of violence. He was attacked with a weapon carried with clear intent, leaving us devastated and haunted by the thought of what he endured. While no sentence can ever bring Shawn back, we feel that today’s decision better reflects the gravity of the actions that took him from us and acknowledges the immense loss we live with every day.
We hope this outcome sends a strong and clear message that carrying and using knives will not be tolerated. We are grateful to everyone who supported the review of this case and to the Attorney General’s Office for ensuring that justice was pursued. As we continue to honor Shawn’s memory, we remain committed to raising awareness about the dangers of knife crime, in the hope that no other family has to endure the pain we carry.”
Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt from the Homicide Team, which oversaw the investigation, commented on the ruling:
“The Court of Appeal has carefully reviewed the sentence the two boys were given for Shawn’s murder and deemed it unduly lenient. After reviewing case law and sentencing guidelines, their sentences have been extended. While any sentence cannot change the devastating impact of Shawn’s murder, we hope that this may bring some peace to all those who loved him and have to live without him.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns about knife crime and its impact on communities. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of addressing the root causes of such violence to prevent future tragedies.