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Monday 29 September 2014

Teenager Guilty Of Girlfriend's Manslaughter After' Accidentally Shooting Her Dead On His Birthday


A teenage boy has been found guilty of his girlfriend's manslaughter after shooting her dead on his birthday.
Shereka Fab-Ann Marsh, 15, was hit in the wrist and neck by a single bullet from a counterfeit 1930s Italian Beretta pistol in the bedroom of a house in Hackney, east London, in March.
Her 15-year-old boyfriend faces jail after being found guilty of manslaughter by a jury at the Old Bailey today. He was cleared of murder.
During the trial the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, insisted that he loved his girlfriend and had no reason to hurt her.

He said he got the gun out of an Xbox box just to show her and when it went off, Shereka simply said: "I've been shot", before collapsing on the bed.
The youth then phoned 999 but she was pronounced dead later that afternoon, the court heard.
On his arrest at the house, the boy told officers it was "an accident" and exclaimed: "Am I going to hell?" and: "My girl died on my birthday."
Officers went on to examine the boy's mobile phone and found two pictures of him posing with handguns, one of which was pointing at the person who took the photograph.

And a search of the bedroom uncovered a stab vest and body armour, but the boy said it was not his.
It can now be reported that the gun which killed Shereka was "hot property", according to Mr Rees. It had been used in a shooting in Finsbury Park the month before in which a car passenger was injured.
At the Old Bailey today, the boy was also found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. He was remanded in custody for sentencing.
In a victim impact statement, the victim's mother, Shyrine Mills, said he had destroyed her daughter's life through his own "stupidity", "recklessness", "lies and deceit".
She said: "Shereka's life was tragically cut short because of the negligent actions by one of her peers who took it upon himself to involve himself in activities that no child should ever be involved with.
"Guns are not toys and should only be handled by trained professionals in extreme circumstances. But for his actions we wouldn't be here today."
On her daughter's killer, she said: "He can never celebrate and enjoy a 'happy birthday' again because from now on he will be haunted by the memory of what happened on his 15th birthday."
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Perry Benton added: "This was a tragic and senseless incident which resulted in the death of a young and ambitious schoolgirl.
"Shereka was a much-cherished daughter and had everything to live for. This incident demonstrates that guns are lethal weapons and when placed in the hands 
of children can have devastating consequences."

Final tweets: The teenager took to Twitter at midday on Saturday - just hours before the shooting took place
Final tweets: The teenager took to Twitter at midday on Saturday - just hours before the shooting took place

One said the boy had brought the gun into the living room.
‘He was showing off with it. Everyone was shouting at him to put it away,’ he said.
‘They were actually screaming at him, but he was waving it around in people’s faces when it just went off without any warning. There was a loud bang and Shereka fell down to the floor.
‘The boy just bolted from the house with his brother. Someone else had to phone an ambulance after hearing the screaming.’
A friend said the boy was ‘fooling around’. She added: ‘He was like an older brother to me. I’m very shocked that he had a gun.’
Tributes was paid to Shereka as the news spread. Her mother Shyrine, 41, a chef who came to the UK from Jamaica 12 years ago, was being comforted by relatives.
Her cousin Tritian Mills said: ‘I don’t know how she’s coping. How do you cope when you’ve lost your only child?
‘Shereka was beautiful. She was a really good girl. She was very smart and athletic – a real all-rounder. She was good at everything – maths, English, history – she had so much promise. We don’t know what happened on Saturday night.’
The scene in Hackney Wick remained cordoned off yesterday as forensic experts investigated.
The neighbourhood, in the shadow of the Olympic Park, was once known for violent crime but has grown popular with artists.
Investigation: A 15-year-old has been charged with murder Scotland Yard confirmed
Investigation: A 15-year-old has been charged with murder Scotland Yard confirmed
Miss Marsh has been named as the victim by friends online, but is yet to be formally identified by police.Miss Marsh has been named as the victim by friends online, but is yet to be formally identified by police.
Standing guard: Miss Marsh has been named as the victim online. Above, officers stand outside the house
Offering condolences: Dozens of people have taken to social-networking sites to pay tribute to Miss Marsh
Offering condolences: Dozens of people have taken to social-networking sites to pay tribute to Miss Marsh
Paying tribute: User @ForeverAyleah posted: 'God gained another beautiful angel #tomorrowisntpromised'
Paying tribute: User @ForeverAyleah posted: 'God gained another beautiful angel #tomorrowisntpromised'

Residents said the shooting was ‘sadly not a surprise’, as many children are forced to look after guns for gang members.
Krista Brown, whose son is friends with those involved, said: ‘Round here a lot of young kids have guns. Most of them are given to them by older kids.
‘They are just boys with deadly weapons. . . Gangs and violence, this is our kids’ reality.’
Miss Brown, a National Apprenticeship Service ambassador, added: ‘It’s a tragic situation.’
Friends who visited the scene to leave flowers said Shereka was the ‘life and soul’ of any group.
Priscilla Dade, 16, said: ‘She was incredibly friendly and bubbly. She was the energy of our friendship group.
Shock: A police officer watches as a group of people gather at the scene where Shereka was shot
Shock: A police officer watches as a group of people gather at the scene where Shereka was shot
In memory: A police community support officer lays flowers handed to him by a mourner at the scene
In memory: A police community support officer lays flowers handed to him by a mourner at the scene
Grief: Two young girls console one another in the wake of Shereka's death
Grief: Two young girls console one another in the wake of Shereka's death
Tributes: Bunches of flowers and sympathy cards were left by visitors to the siteA police officer lays flowers

Tributes: Bunches of flowers and sympathy cards were left by visitors to the site
Sorrow: Young people light candles outside the house this afternoon
Sorrow: Young people light candles outside the house this afternoon
Education:The 15-year-old victim was a star pupil at Urswick School (pictured) in Paragon Road, Hackney
Education:The 15-year-old victim was a star pupil at Urswick School (pictured) in Paragon Road, Hackney
'Rest in paradise': Twitter user Nasir Jones pays tribute to Miss Marsh - dubbing the shooting a 'tragic story'
'Rest in paradise': Twitter user Nasir Jones pays tribute to Miss Marsh - dubbing the shooting a 'tragic story'
Shereka was very ambitious and planned to go to college and then university. She was the type of girl you wanted to be around.’
Another said: ‘Shereka only went to drop off his birthday present, and somehow she got shot. Nobody knows how yet.’
Family friend Kourtney Fraser-Grant said Shereka had strong feelings for her new boyfriend.
‘She wasn’t someone who liked to admit that she cared about someone but it was obvious she really liked him,’ she said.
‘Shereka’s mother is a chef who worked really hard and long hours to support her daughter. Shereka was all she had.’
Investigation: A police forensic expert leaves the house with sealed bags of evidence
Investigation: A police forensic expert leaves the house with sealed bags of evidence
Probe: A forensics officer enters the property to search for evidence
Probe: A forensics officer enters the property to search for evidence
Guard: Police community support officers stand sentry outside the terraced house
Guard: Police community support officers stand sentry outside the terraced house
Shooting: Officers are pictured at the house last night. Miss Marsh was pronounced dead at the scene
Shooting: Officers are pictured at the house last night. Miss Marsh was pronounced dead at the scene

Shereka had written thousands of posts on Twitter. One poignant message, from the day before her death, said simply: ‘I don’t understand the concept of life.’
A post-mortem examination at Poplar Mortuary found Shereka died from a single gunshot wound to the neck..

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