Boy, 16, convicted of Blackburn man's murder

Mohsin Mohammed, of Sussex Drive, off Audley Range, Blackburn, was branded a ‘coward’ with a ‘disregard for human life’ after being convicted of the murder of Christopher Folkes.

After ‘kicking his head like a football’, Mohammed left Mr Folkes in a pool of his own blood, with a fractured eye-socket, cheekbone and jaw, and severe brain injuries.

Mr Folkes died in the early hours of May 31.

Mohammed was convicted of murdering the 36-year-old in Queen's Park, Blackburn, on May 30.

After the case, Mr Folkes' family told of their anguish at the killing of a 'caring person who would always walk away from trouble and did not stand a chance'.

Police slammed Mohammed's 'appalling and wicked' actions but said they were not racially motivated.

The judge, Justice Butterfield, sentenced Mohammed to the equivalent of life for a young offender with a minimum of 11 years before he's eligible for parole.

Judge Butterfield lifted restrictions on naming the teenager because of the 'quite considerable violence meted out on a member of the public'.

He rejected Mohammed's explanation of the horrific attack that Mr Folkes had insulted one of his group on the night and branded him 'a coward' for trying to lie his way out it.

Judge Butterfield said: “This was a vicious, brutal and sustained assault on a helpless and defenceless man who you quite literally kicked to death.

“It is wholly unbelievable that the victim brought the attack on himself.

“Not only are you guilty of that assault, but you are a coward.

"Not only in the way you attacked Christopher Folkes, but the way in which you have clearly sought to blame others.

“You did not have the courage to admit it, but attempted to lie your way out of the predicament.

“I'm not particularly impressed by any suggestion you are remorseful.”

During the trial, the court had heard how around 9.30pm, witnesses had seen the victim being chased by his attacker – one of a group of young men who had been drinking in the park - who tripped him, kicked him repeatedly and stamped on his head.

Mohammed then texted an ex-girlfriend, telling her he had been in a 'one-on-one fight' and had killed someone unintentionally.

The jury had taken just an hour before returning from their deliberations to record a unanimous verdict of guilty to murder.

There were cheers from the public gallery, where members of Mr Folkes' family had sat and watched each day of the week-long trial.

Mohammed spent his 17th birthday on Tuesday contemplating a lengthy stretch in prison, but his parents were not in court to see him sent down.

After the case Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who led the inquiry, said: "Christopher was subjected to a sustained and vicious assault.

"He was repeatedly kicked about the head whilst lying motionless on the ground in a motiveless attack.

"What made this even more sickening is that it is was committed in broad daylight whilst other people were using the park for recreational purposes."

"The young man responsible had consumed far too much alcohol but despite this he was still able to chase, fell and then subject the victim to an unprovoked violent attack that even appalled the friends who were with him in the park.

"Even the screams for him to stop, from a member of the public who witnessed the attack, had no effect on him, he just continued attacking the victim.

"I only hope today's outcome will provide some small comfort to Christopher' s family and I wish them the all well in the future.

In mitigation, Peter Birkett QC, said his client Mohammed had not planned the attack and there was 'no significant pre-meditation'.

He said: “This is a young man of previous good character and a young man of positive ability and potential and from what I understand has conducted himself as a model prisoner while on remand.”

Judge Butterfield said he was 'singularly impressed' with witnesses who gave evidence behind screens for their 'public spirited nature' and told the CPS to write and congratulate them on their evidence and behaviour.

“Too often, sadly, people who observe events of this horrific nature find it difficult to come forward, give statements and later evidence.”

Following Christopher's murder and the death of Adam Rogers in Blackburn following an alleged attack, the Make Blackburn Safer Group was set up by campaigners to turn the tide of drink-fuelled violence.

‘My brother didn’t stand a chance’

CHRISTOPHER Folkes’ sister Rachel Baxter said the family were ‘pleased’ with the result and felt justice had been done.

But she slammed Mohammed’s excuses that her brother had started an argument, saying it was not in his nature to look for trouble.

She said: “We know Chris never made a comment. He wasn’t racist and he would never call anyone.

“It was just lies to try and blame other people.

“Chris didn’t stand a chance that night. He wouldn’t have even fought back because he’s that kind of person.

"He would always avoid trouble and walk away. But that lad didn’t let him walk away.

“It is frightening that he is so young, but I think age doesn’t matter.

"He’s just one of those people who will always be like that, with no feelings.

“He’s not even bothered that his own family have had to suffer.”

Chris had phoned his mum, Christine Baxter, shortly before making his way through Queen’s Park to see her.

He called most days, but would usually take a different route, according to his sister.

He had asked for a lift but his mum, who suffers from arthritis, was not able to collect him.

Rachel said their mum blamed herself for some time after his death.

“It’s tragic and it has been a very difficult time. He got attacked a few weeks earlier in the park and wouldn’t go after dark, but as it was summer, it was still daylight.

“Chris was such a caring person, words cannot express how I feel now.

“I can’t imagine what the witnesses felt after seeing the attack, but I’m thankful they came forward.”

Chris, a former John Rigby High School pupil, worked with computers for ICI.

He was a recovering heroin addict having kicked the habit two years before his death.

Rachel said: “I just think he got in with the wrong people, but managed to get himself off it.

“It was a lesson to all of us.”

‘Wrong place at wrong time’

WHEN Christopher Folkes walked past a group of youths on a balmy summer’s evening, he wasn’t to know they had been downing Red Bull and Vodka all day and that one of their number was spoiling for a fight.

Fifteen minutes earlier, another man could have been the victim after being approached by Mohsin Mohammed, but when his dog bounded up to his side, the aggressive 16-year-old backed off.

Speaking after the case, Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who led the investigation into the schoolboy killer, said Mr Folkes was ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’.

He said: “Despite the fact Mohammed had consumed alcohol, he was still fit enough to run 100m and then launch into a vicious attack.

“Witnesses and even his friends were screaming at him to stop.

"He looked at them in disgust and continued the attack. I’m convinced he was going to throw him in the lake.

“What emphasises how wicked and appalling his action were, was that as he walked away and his friend asked him ‘what did you do that for?’ “He replied ‘**** it’. That is how much disregard he had for human life.”

Mr Hunter ruled out that Mohammed’s actions were racially motivated.

And he went on to praise the eye-witnesses for ‘probably the best evidence I have heard in all my years’.

He said their evidence was ‘compelling’ and crucial to the jury’s quick decision.

Also key, was the bloodstained clothes recovered in the early hours of the Tuesday morning after the attack.

A witness told police Mohammed had dumped his clothes in a Morrisons bag in a charity bin.

But it took officers hours of trailing through 600 bin bags at a Manchester depot before they found the incriminating evidence.

It placed Mohammed at the scene, wearing the clothes, and with Mr Folkes’ blood on the inside of his jeans.

In paying tribute to the ‘dignity’ shown by the family of Mr Folkes, Mr Hunter criticised the ‘boisterous and intimidating’ behaviour of members of Mohammed’s support, saying their conduct was ‘unbefitting of a murder trial’.