Life for horror knife attack teen
Published: Thursday, 6 November 2008, 3:15PM
A teenage mugger who left a 5in knife embedded in a schoolboy's skull has been given a life sentence.
Yassin Elmansouri, 17, stabbed three youths outside a Tesco store in Old Kent Road, Walworth, south London, in November last year.
He was part of a gang of three who tried to rob two friends of the victim, a 15-year-old boy called Ahmad.
Elmansouri drove a bendy kitchen knife into Ahmad's forehead when he bravely tried to intervene. The handle broke off and the blade was left lodged in his skull.
The mugger then stabbed one of the boy's friends in the back twice and knifed the third victim in the shoulder.
Surgeons managed to save Ahmad's life and he enrolled for a college course ten months later despite having 5 per cent of his brain removed.
A jury at Inner London Crown Court convicted Elmansouri of attempted murder and two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
Judge Colin Smith sentenced Elmansouri to life detention and ordered he serve a minimum of seven years before he can be considered for parole.
Detective Constable Scott Albert, who led the investigation, said: "There is no doubt the victim was lucky to survive.
"Since the incident the victim's reactions have slowed and he walks with a limp. But he is back at college and trying to get on with his life."
Police are still hunting the other two attackers.
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