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Two teenagers have been jailed for killing 17-year-old Harleigh Hepworth, who was lured to Wolverhampton’s West Park under false pretences and fatally stabbed.
Harleigh, from Brereton in Rugeley, had travelled to the city on March 7 last year, believing he was meeting people who could help him get established selling drugs. Instead, he and a friend were set up by 18-year-old Jovarn Esterine and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons.
West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Ade George, who led the investigation, said: ‘Prior to the meeting, Harleigh had unfortunately started trying to make money through selling drugs. He was offered work to sell drugs by the two offenders, but through text messages, we could see that Harleigh was nervous about it all. On a promise to a friend, he decided to go along that night.
‘Once in the park, Harleigh and his friend were taken to a secluded area, supposedly to wait for a lift. As they stood listening to music, the attackers asked to borrow their phones.’
DI George explained: ‘It was during that time that the offenders logged into their Snapchat accounts on the victims’ phones and started messaging each other. During those messages, they made reference to a “lick” which is street slang for committing a robbery.’
‘We believe that the offer of making money wasn’t actually there. This was all part of a planned robbery. They would get people from out of town to come and meet them and then rob them because they didn’t know what they were getting into.’
When Harleigh and his friend realised something was wrong and tried to get their phones back, the confrontation turned violent.
‘Harleigh and his friend were obviously nervous and they tried to get their phones back,’ DI George said. ‘They were non-violent and non-aggressive, but the offender wouldn’t give the phones back. He pulled out a large knife and stabbed Harleigh once through the chest.’
Harleigh managed to run a short distance before collapsing on a main path near the park’s bridge. His friend tried to follow, but Esterine and the other teenager stopped him from leaving.
DI George said: ‘By the end, the offenders asked them for the PIN numbers of the phones. I think most teenagers will know at that point that this means those phones are going to be taken from them.’
Members of the public found Harleigh and called an ambulance. Paramedics attempted to save him, but he was declared dead at the scene from a single stab wound that pierced his heart.
Meanwhile, the killers fled the park, discarding one of the stolen phones in a drain.
Police Investigation
Detectives quickly launched a murder investigation.
‘With the evidence we were able to share with the Crown Prosecution Service, we were given the authority to charge them both with murder,’ DI George said.
Officers pieced together CCTV footage, phone records, and social media activity to track the attackers’ movements. Investigators also found that after stealing the phones, Esterine had posted a message on Snapchat offering a phone for sale.
Court Verdicts and Sentencing
Following a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the 17-year-old who stabbed Harleigh was found guilty of murder and robbery. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 17 years and 42 days.
Esterine was convicted of manslaughter and robbery and jailed for six years and 43 days.
An application to name the 17-year-old was rejected by Mr Justice Turner.
Reaction to the Sentencing
After the verdict, DI George said: ‘Regardless of someone’s past history, nobody deserves to die in those circumstances. It’s not for someone to decide that they want to take someone’s property, and if they don’t get it, fatally stab them.’
Wolverhampton Police Chief Superintendent Richard Fisher described the city’s knife crime problem as ‘an epidemic’ and called Harleigh’s death ‘a tragic loss of life.’
‘We see too many young lives being lost to knife crime, and the consequences are devastating, he said. ‘Harleigh’s family will never get him back, and two other young men have thrown away their futures.’
Harleigh’s family said his death had left a void in their lives.
‘Harleigh had a great sense of humour, he was funny, and he was polite’ they said in a statement. ‘We will miss him massively, but we will always remember his cheekiness, his infectious smile, and the fun times we had together.’
His girlfriend also paid tribute.
ACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and Sentencing
As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:
This case highlights the severity with which the UK legal system treats both murder and robbery. Harleigh Hepworth’s death was the result of a premeditated robbery gone wrong, with his killers using violence to take his possessions.
Murder and Manslaughter
In cases of murder, as seen in this case, a life sentence is mandatory. The 17-year-old who delivered the fatal blow received a minimum term of 17 years and 42 days before he can apply for parole. Murder is defined as intentionally causing the death of another person, and the courts consider it an especially serious crime, carrying the most severe penalties.
Manslaughter, the conviction for Esterine, occurs when someone kills another person but without the intent to cause death or with diminished responsibility. Esterine’s conviction for manslaughter resulted in a sentence of 6 years and 43 days. In this case, the court found that although he was involved in the fatal stabbing, his level of responsibility did not meet the threshold for murder.
Robbery
Both offenders were also convicted of robbery, a serious crime under the Theft Act 1968. Robbery occurs when force or the threat of force is used to steal from another person. Since the killing occurred during a robbery, this aggravated the seriousness of the crime. Penalties for robbery can range from a minimum of 3 years to life imprisonment, depending on the specifics of the crime.
Sentencing and Parole
The sentences handed down reflect the seriousness of both the murder and the robbery. In cases where a life sentence is involved, judges determine the minimum term that must be served before an offender can be considered for parole. The Parole Board then assesses whether the offender poses a risk to public safety. If granted parole, the offender remains on licence for life, meaning they can be recalled to prison at any time if they breach conditions.
This case serves as a reminder of the legal consequences of violent crime and the harsh penalties for those who commit murder, robbery, and other violent offences.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
Jason King
Birmingham City-Desk
Twitter (X) @JasonKingNews
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