Schoolboy, 14, 'stabbed IT worker to death' in mass supermarket brawl

10 November 2022, 10:12

Ian Kirwan was allegedly stabbed to death by a gang of youths
Ian Kirwan was allegedly stabbed to death by a gang of youths. Picture: West Mercia Police

By Kit Heren

A 14-year-old schoolboy has appeared in court alongside his friends, charged with stabbing an IT worker to death in a supermarket.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

All five boys, aged between 13 and 15, are accused of acting together in the murder of Ian Kirwan, 53, in a Worcestershire Asda on March 8 this year.

A 13-year-old kicked Mr Kirwan before he was stabbed in the heart, the court heard. He died before reaching hospital.

The scuffle came about after Mr Kirwan, a software engineer, went to the Redditch shop toilets and saw the boys messing about and challenged them on their behaviour.

Ian Kirwan
Ian Kirwan. Picture: West Mercia Police

Opening the prosecution's case, Benjamin Aina KC told the court: "Ian Kirwan left his home in Redditch with the intention of going to B&Q to buy a light switch.

"At about 7.15 in the evening, Mr Kirwan went into Asda and entered the customer toilets. When he did so, he came into contact with a group of five young males who were messing about.

Read more: Triple stabbing at Harrow on the Hill station in north west London

Read more: Father charged with manslaughter 'after ignoring son's snakebite and going to bed before boy died'

"A little later he left the toilets. He left the Asda store and some of the boys were outside and he challenged them. 'Why were you messing about in the toilets' - words to that effect.

"A scuffle broke out and, during that scuffle, Ian Kirwan was stabbed once to his heart with a knife and he died before getting to hospital. He was only 53 years old.

"There is no dispute in this case that the person who stabbed Ian Kirwan was [the 14-year-old].

Daughter speaks as man is convicted of murdering her mother who died 21 years after petrol attack

"However, the prosecution's case is that at the time Ian Kirwan was stabbed with the knife, the five boys were acting together as a group - intentionally assisting and encouraging [the boy who stabbed Mr Kirwan] and that they intended that Mr Kirwan should be caused at least really serious harm with the knife that was used.

"Therefore, the prosecution say, in law all five boys are jointly responsible for Mr Kirwan's death."

All five boys, who cannot be named because of their age, deny murdering Mr Kirwan, as well as the lesser charge of manslaughter and violent disorder.

The court heard how they came from Birmingham to Redditch as part of a larger group that afternoon. They behaved rowdily on the journey, throwing rubbish and causing other train passengers to move away from them.

Police bodycam shows Jemma Mitchell being arrested for murder

One boy, 15, allegedly took out a knife in front of other people on the journey. He gave the weapon to the boy who stabbed Mr Kirwan and admitted possession of a knife - but denied responsibility for the death.

The boy who stabbed Mr Kirwan denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, arguing that he was suffering from a mental disorder that influenced his judgement at the time of the killing.

Mr Aina said: "The prosecution accept that he suffered from the mental health disorders that I have mentioned.

"What the prosecution say is that what was operating on [the youth's] mind at the time of the killing was a behaviour disorder.

"And a behaviour disorder is not a mental health disorder."

The trial continues.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Gunner Beck

Women in Army subjected to 'disgusting' comments from male colleagues amid misogynistic culture, inquest hears

The aircraft can be seen upside down, with its wheels in the air, and the area thick with snow

Emergency crews responding to plane crash in Toronto as 15 injured

Paula Miluska had started working from home in November 2022 due to her pregnancy illness

Woman awarded £93k payout after boss fires her for morning sickness by sending jazz hands emoji

c

Britain must take a ‘leading responsibility’ for peace in Ukraine, says PM as he calls for US ‘security guarantee’

Andrew Tate is facing allegations of trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering

Trump team 'pressuring Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate'

Skyrora, a rocket company with its headquarters in Edinburgh

Scottish company promises to blast rockets into space from 2026

A petition calling for major driving licence changes has received almost 100,000 signatures

Petition calls for ban on newly-qualified drivers carrying passengers under 25

The Princess of Wales has shares portraits drawn by her three children during the half-term break.

Princess of Wales shares heartwarming portraits drawn by George, Charlotte and Louis - but who drew who?

Double Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will retire from cycling this year.

Tour de France winner and double Olympic champion Geraint Thomas to retire from cycling at end of season

A 13-year-old boy has died and five others have been arrested following  a car crash on A672 Oldham Road.

Boy, 13, dies and five others arrested as Vauxhall Corsa spins off road in horror car crash

Lisa Smith, 43, was named by Kent Police

Pictured: Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentine's Day - as police search river Thames for partner

Julia Wandelt who has claimed to be Madeleine McCann

Woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann releases bombshell new DNA test results

Pope Francis will need to remain in hospital with a respiratory tract infection

Pope to remain in hospital with infection as doctors tackle 'complex clinical picture'

One lucky punter scooped £65m on the EuroMillions

Lucky UK ticket-holder claims £65m Valentine's Day EuroMillions jackpot

A life-drawing class that has been running for over 30 years has been told its models must cover-up or find a new venue.

Models at life drawing class in posh London neighbourhood told to cover up over child 'safeguarding' concerns

Exclusive
An investigation by LBC can reveal there are more than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England - the equivalent of one in every 23.

More than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England as thousands left at risk of homelessness