Vigil in Birmingham for teenager stabbed to death

Around 100 people attended a vigil in memory of a teenager who was stabbed to death in Birmingham.

Dea-John Reid, 14, was “hunted down” by a group shouting racial slurs and attacked following a confrontation over a bag in May 2021, jurors were told at a trial two years ago.

A 15-year-old boy was convicted of manslaughter, while four others were acquitted of murder.

The vigil, in College Road, Kingstanding, close to where Dea-John was stabbed, was part of a campaign calling for jury reform.

Dea-John was a promising footballer who wanted to be a dentist but died after being chased through the streets of Kingstanding.

The vigil was organized with the help of community activist Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo.

He said campaigners wanted juries to be more balanced in cases where race was an issue.

“The jury needs to reflect the demographics, which it didn’t in this case, and also expand the whole aspect of jury selection and civic engagement,” he said.

The convicted teenager was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to six and a half years.

The jury at Birmingham Crown Court consisted of 11 whites and one of South Asian heritage.