Court Hears Testimony About Grandmother’s Efforts to Prevent Juvenile Machete Murder in Wolverhampton
Nottingham, England – 29 July 2023
A Nottingham Crown Court hearing has revealed disturbing details in the case of two 12-year-old boys who were found guilty of the murder of 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai in Wolverhampton last year. The court heard testimony that the grandmother of one of the boys had repeatedly sought help and even intercepted weapons in a desperate attempt to prevent her grandson from engaging in violent behaviour.
On Monday, the court was informed that one of the boys, who bought the £40 machete used in the attack, had been caught with knives as early as 2021. His grandmother had reported these incidents to authorities and sought assistance, but she claims her efforts were insufficiently supported. The youth went on to murder Mr Seesahai six months after his grandmother had intercepted the last machetes.
The tragic incident unfolded on November 13, 2022, in Stowlawn playing fields, East Park, Wolverhampton. Shawn Seesahai died after being stabbed in the heart and suffering a severe skull fracture during the attack. The horrifying crime committed by the two boys, who have since turned 13 and are now facing life sentences, has shocked the community.
The grandmother, who lived with the boy for most of his life, had to move out of her home after masked individuals appeared outside her property following her grandson's arrest. Jude Bunting, representing media organisations, argued in court that the risk to the boy’s family already existed and that lifting the anonymity order would not substantially increase the threat.
Mr Bunting disclosed that a 2023 assessment of the youth suggested that insufficient measures were taken to protect him, and the local authority’s response was critiqued. The grandmother's desperate interventions, which included intercepting weapons and seeking help since 2021, were central to the arguments presented. She indicated that her grandson armed himself because he thought it was "cool" but feared her reaction if she knew.
Both boys had initially denied the murder, but they were convicted unanimously by a jury in June. On Monday, the hearing also focused on whether the anonymity of the boys, protected by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act, should be lifted. High Court judge Mrs Justice Tipples was informed that the decision must balance the welfare of the youths against public interest.
Jude Bunting KC pushed for lifting the restrictions, claiming that public identification of the boys could expose potential institutional failures. He also referred to a significant public interest due to the nature of the crime involving severe knife violence. However, defence counsels Rachel Brand KC and Paul Lewis KC opposed the move, highlighting the boys' welfare and the absence of evidence that naming them would serve as a deterrent.
Ms Brand pointed out the complex needs and behavioural vulnerabilities of her client, while Mr Lewis stressed the focus should remain on the facts of the case rather than abstract principles. He also noted that the boy he represented, who has since turned 13, had no record of offending or antisocial behaviour and held potential for rehabilitation, as suggested by a pre-sentence report.
The judge is expected to deliver her ruling on Wednesday, 29 July, on whether to lift the anonymity order. The decision, however, is likely to be “stayed” until the sentencing hearing scheduled for 26 and 27 September, allowing for potential appeals.
The implications of this case are significant, as it echoes the notorious case of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, who were convicted at a similar age for the murder of James Bulger in 1993. The court proceedings have underscored issues of youth violence, the adequacy of institutional responses, and the balancing act between public interest and the welfare of young offenders.