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  1. ITV Report

Teenager sentenced to life in prison for knife murder of student outside college

  • 17-year-old Laoui Ali stabbed Sidali Mohamed, who was 16, outside a Birmingham college in February.
  • Ali was found guilty of murder after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
  • Ali was also guilty of wounding with intent, unlawful wounding and two charges of having an offensive weapon.
Laoui Ali, 17, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison. Credit: West Midlands Police

A teenager has been jailed for 19 years after being convicted of murdering a student in Birmingham.

17-year-old Laoui Ali was found guilty of fatally stabbing Sidali Mohamed, who was 16, after he left Joseph Chamberlain College in Highgate on 13 February this year.

As Sidali left the college, he passed Ali and headed over to his friends before heading back towards Ali. After an exchange of words, Ali lunged forward and punched Sidali before stabbing him. Sidali staggered away and collapsed inside the college grounds where staff battled to save him. He was rushed to hospital where he sadly died of his injuries two days later.

Sidali Mohamed was stabbed to death outside Joseph Chamberlain College in Highgate on 13 February this year. Credit: West Midlands Police

17-year-old aspiring boxer Laoui Ali was on bail for another wounding that had taken place in Highgate, Birmingham in December 2018 when he and an accomplice stabbed a man in the arm as he walked down the street.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 12 July found Ali guilty of murder. He was also found guilty of stabbing another student during the same incident, but cleared of stabbing a security guard.

He was found guilty of the unrelated wounding and possession of an offensive weapon from December. Ali was found not guilty of making threats with an offensive weapon, as part of the December incident.

In a statement, Sidali’s family said:

Sidali was an amazing son, brother, cousin, nephew and a fantastic friend. Sidali was an ambitious young man with his whole life ahead of him. Sidali’s death has left a huge void in our family."

– Family statement
Laoui Ali has been jailed for 19 years for murdering Sidali Mohamed, who was 16. Credit: ITV News Central

Upon Ali's conviction, Supt Edward Foster, who led the investigation, said:

Ali was already on bail after he was involved in a stabbing in December, but still chose to carry a knife.

It is always a choice to carry a knife and I cannot stress enough the dangers and implications it can have. In this case, that decision on both occasions has ruined many people’s lives and traumatised many young people who witnessed a truly horrific attack.

– Supt Edward Foster, West Midlands Police