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A man has been given a life sentence with a lowest sentence of 23 years for the murder of a young Syrian refugee after the teenager walked by his girlfriend in the center of Huddersfield.

Trial Learns Particulars of Fatal Altercation

A Leeds courtroom heard how the defendant, 20, knifed the teenager, 16, shortly after the boy brushed past the defendant's partner. He was found guilty of murder on Thursday.

Ahmad, who had escaped battle-scarred the city of Homs after being hurt in a explosion, had been staying in the West Yorkshire town for only a short period when he met Franco, who had been for a jobcentre appointment that day and was going to buy beauty product with his partner.

Particulars of the Incident

Leeds crown court was informed that the accused – who had used weed, a stimulant drug, a prescription medication, an anesthetic and codeine – took “a minor offense” to the boy “innocuously” going past his companion in the road.

Security camera video revealed Franco making a remark to the victim, and gesturing him closer after a brief exchange. As the boy approached, the attacker unfolded the knife on a switchblade he was concealing in his pants and thrust it into the teenager's throat.

Verdict and Judgment

The accused refuted the murder charge, but was convicted by a jury who considered the evidence for about three hours. He pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place.

While sentencing the defendant on Friday, judge Howard Crowson said that upon spotting the teenager, the man “identified him as a target and drew him to within your proximity to strike before taking his life”. He said Franco’s claim to have seen a weapon in the boy's clothing was “untrue”.

The judge said of the teenager that “it stands as proof to the doctors and nurses trying to save his life and his determination to live he even arrived at the hospital breathing, but in reality his injuries were fatal”.

Relatives Impact and Statement

Presenting a statement prepared by Ahmad’s uncle Ghazwan Al Ibrahim, with input from his parents, Richard Wright KC told the court that the boy's dad had had a heart episode upon learning of the incident of his child's passing, leading to an operation.

“It is hard to express the consequence of their awful offense and the effect it had over all involved,” the message stated. “His mother still weeps over his garments as they smell of him.”

The uncle, who said his nephew was dear to him and he felt remorseful he could not keep him safe, went on to declare that the teenager had thought he had found “a peaceful country and the fulfilment of dreams” in Britain, but instead was “cruelly taken away by the senseless and unprovoked act”.

“As Ahmad’s uncle, I will always feel responsible that Ahmad had traveled to England, and I could not ensure his safety,” he said in a statement after the verdict. “Our beloved boy we adore you, we yearn for you and we will continue always.”

Background of the Victim

The court learned Ahmad had made his way for a quarter of a year to get to England from his home country, visiting a refugee centre for youths in the Welsh city and going to school in the Welsh city before moving to Huddersfield. The teenager had dreamed of becoming a doctor, inspired partially by a hope to care for his mom, who had a chronic medical issue.