CCTV footage shows the chilling moment a schoolboy picked up a brick which he and his older friend then used to murder a 24-year-old man with at a skate park.
The 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and Kai Howitt, 19, were today jailed for killing Jack Edwards at Sussex Street skate park in Nottingham.
A court heard the pair picked up pieces of brick before simultaneously hurling them at Mr Edwards, after an argument broke out on December 5 last year.
Howitt, of West Bridgford, Nottingham, threw a brick at Mr Edwards’ face, which damaged his skull and caused ‘catastrophic brain damage’. His life support was withdrawn two days later at Queen’s Medical Centre.
The court heard Mr Edwards had take a mixture of alcohol and drugs — having been released from prison on the day of the attack — and was acting ‘erratic’ and ‘confrontational’.
Mr Edwards made ‘rude and sexual remarks’ to two 14-year-old girls, which promoted the incident, the court heard.
Judge Mr Justice Turner sentenced the pair at Liverpool Crown Court, jailing Howitt for a minimum term of 14 years and detaining the 13-year-old for at least four years and six months in a young offender institution.
Both will remain on licence for the rest of their lives.
Kai Howitt, 19, (pictured) who was convicted of murdering Jack Edwards, 24, in a skate park on December 5 last year by throwing a brick at his head
The unnamed 13-year-old boy (R) picks up two pieces of brick from the ground and hands one of the objects to Howitt (L)
Jack Edwards, 24, (pictured) suffered ‘catastrophic brain damage’ as a result of the attack
After hitting Mr Edwards in the face, his attackers fled the scene and left him lying on the ground fatally injured.
Howitt, who was 18 at the time, and the 13-year-old boy were both caught by police shortly after the attack.
A court head the youth had searched how many years in prison a person could receive for ‘bricking’ someone.
Howitt also conducted multiple incident searches for news about the incident, with detectives uncovering these checks after reviewing CCTV footage.
Following a two-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, both defendants were found guilty of murder on June 27.
Mr Edwards’ family have now spoke out about their loss in statements released via Nottinghamshire Police.
Mum Zoe Edwards said: ‘You will always be our loving son, loveable rogue.
‘They have taken away our happiness, but they can never take away our love for you, dear son.
The unnamed 13-year-old boy (R) picks up two pieces of masonry from the ground and hands one of the objects to Howitt (L)
‘We will always carry this sadness and aching in our hearts until we meet again.’
Brother Reece Edwards added: ‘Everyday, I question what’s the point of achievements in life if I haven’t got my brother.
‘We were supposed to smash life together.
‘Every day, I dread night times because that is when it becomes quiet, and I see your face all lifeless.
‘I’ll never be the same person without you. I’ll never laugh and smile the same. I will try and make you proud, big brother.’
Detective Inspector Clare Gibson, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: ‘Throughout each stage of this investigation and the murder trial that followed, Jack’s killers never owned up to their crime.
‘Despite knowing exactly what they’d done, both defendants denied any wrongdoing, with Jack’s family having to relive what happened to him in court as a direct result.
‘By launching pieces of masonry at Jack from point blank range, they must have realised the harm this could potentially cause, but both chose to throw them at him anyway.
‘They then immediately compounded what they’d done by fleeing from the scene and not trying to help Jack, who they instead left dying on the ground.
‘I can only imagine the pain Jack’s family are still going through but I’d again like to praise them for the way they’ve conducted themselves, both throughout our investigation and the court proceedings too.
‘While no punishment handed out will ever make up for the ordeal they’ve suffered, I hope the sentence passed today will provide Jack’s loved ones with some small degree of comfort.’
