Ben Morutare death: Six men jailed after Smethwick violence
A Birmingham man has been jailed for stabbing to death a 16 year-old boy outside a party in the West Midlands.
Ben Morutare, from Walsall, died after being stabbed in the leg outside Smethwick's Home Guard and Old Comrades Club in July last year.
Andy Ly, 18, was sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting manslaughter and violent disorder.
Five other men were also jailed for their part in the violence after a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The jury heard that up to 300 people attended the 18th birthday party at the Old Comrades Club after it was advertised on social media.
CCTV footage played in court showed a gang of men attacking Ben after he tried to intervene in a fight to protect a friend.
Following the 12-week trial, the judge, Sir Geoffrey Grigson, said Ben's death had been "senseless, needless and the cause of great suffering".
His mother, who brought Ben to the UK from Zimbabwe, said he was a "loveable child" and a "protective son and brother".
Following the verdict, Grace Morutare, said: "You would think that with time the pain of losing our Ben would get a bit easier but it's been the toughest time of our lives; the fact that we will never see Ben again is the most painful and unbearable thought.
"No family should go through what we have gone through. We will always love and miss our Ben dearly."
- Andy Ly, 18, of Fulmer Walk, Ladywood, was jailed for seven years after admitting manslaughter and violent disorder mid-trial
- Omar Robinson, 19, of Rann Close, Ladywood, was jailed for 28 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder, also mid-trial
- Dale Reid, 18, Rodney Close, Ladywood pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to 28 months
- Tahj Mills, 19, Waterside Street, West Bromwich, was convicted of violent disorder and sentenced to three and a half years in prison
- Jordan Campbell, 18, of Portland Road, Edgbaston, was convicted of violent disorder and sentenced to 18 months
- Tobias Blake, 20, of Kelsall Croft, Ladywood, was convicted of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to three and a half years