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Teen in gang stabbing of schoolboy gets life

A 16-year-old who stabbed to death schoolboy Martin Dinnegan after he had looked at him "the wrong way" was sentenced to life at the Old Bailey on Friday.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 00:01 August 9, 2008
  • Gulf News

London: A 16-year-old who stabbed to death schoolboy Martin Dinnegan after he had looked at him "the wrong way" was sentenced to life at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Joseph Chin, who the judge ruled could be named despite his age, had been part of a gang of up to 20 youths who had chased Dinnegan after glances had been exchanged between two groups less than an hour earlier, the jury was told.

Dinnegan, 14, described as an A-grade pupil, was alone and unarmed when he was chased by the mob who were on cycles and a moped. Witnesses told the court how they had heard him plead for help before becoming trapped at the top of a road in Holloway, north London.

The youngster was punched, kicked and stabbed in the back four times, the court heard.

He was left dying in the street outside a chip shop in June last year, a few hundred yards from his home.

"This was a deliberate attack with revenge in mind," said Judge Brian Barker.

"There was no possible excuse or justification for this act. This was arrogant group behaviour.

"The result was the total unnecessary loss of life without any regard for the standards and rules we live by and without any regard for the victim, his family and friends."

Chin, who had denied murder, will serve a minimum of 12 years.

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