TWO men who stabbed a teenager in Eastville, leaving him with a knife lodged in his shoulder, have been jailed.
Bristol Crown Court heard Rioul Scharschmidt and Romaine Mullings, who were also both teenagers at the time, attacked Dontae Davis in Gloucester Street, Eastville, in May 2021.
Although Dontae survived the assault, he was killed five months later by another teenager in St Philip’s.
Scharschmidt (above, left), now 21, and Mullings (above, right), 20, were last year charged with wounding and weapons offences following what police described as a “lengthy investigation”.
They were found guilty after a trial in March of this year and sentenced yesterday.
An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said: “When police and ambulance crews arrived following 999 calls about the attack, they found Dontae Davis still had a knife embedded in his shoulder.
“He had also been stabbed in the head, abdomen and buttock, but despite requiring hospital treatment his injuries were not life-threatening.
“Scharschmidt and Mullings were arrested later that day after attending hospital for treatment to injuries of their own. Scharschmidt had a knife wound in his upper back while Mullings had injuries to his neck and arm.”
Victim died in later knife attack
Dontae (below) died after being stabbed again in October 2021 in Hayes Close, near Old Market.
His killer, Kairon Sawyers, is serving a nine-year jail term after being cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter in 2022, when he was 19.
Trial judge Edward Burgess jailed Scharschmidt for a total of five and a half years for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
He was told he will serve three years and four months before he can be considered for release on licence.
Mullings was jailed for a year and eight months for wounding and possessing an offensive weapon, plus an extra six months for dangerous driving and eight months for possessing cannabis with intent to supply, in relation to a separate incident last September.
He was told he would serve half of his two-year, ten-month sentence.
Mullings was also disqualified from driving for 29 months for the dangerous driving incident.
A police spokesperson said Scharschmidt’s barrister told the court his client had left school at 16 and been the primary carer for his disabled mother, also volunteering for children’s charity Barnardos.
Mullings had no previous convictions, and had been stabbed himself.
Judge Burgess said he took into account that the defendants were aged 18 and 17 at the time of the attack but even at that time Scharschmidt was not of “good character”, and Mullings had since been convicted of possessing a machete and drug offences.
‘Fearsome’ knives
The judge said both men had stabbed Dontae – Scharschmidt more than once and Mullings at least once.
He said both defendants were in possession of “fearsome” knives, while Dontae had a knife as well.
Judge Burgess said: “It’s a depressing feature of this case that young men like you seem to have so little regard for your lives and those of others.”
Victim’s mother calls on defendants to make ‘positive choices’
In a statement read to the court, Dontae’s mother Niquae addressed the two defendants, saying: “I wish, for the world’s sake, that this time will have a massive impact on your life…and you will come out of this with something positive to give to society, rather than the way you started.
“If not, I fear for both your mothers as maybe one day, if you don’t make positive choices, you will end up where Dontae is.
“I hope you really think on the things I am saying and take every word to your heart.”
Niquae described her family’s experience since Dontae’s death as “heart-wrenching” but said she had “peace of mind, knowing that these offenders are off the street”.
Addressing other young people who choose to carry knives, she said: “The choices you make run river deep, as it runs through your family and the hearts of everyone you love.”
Defendants ‘finally reaping the consequences’ of carrying knives
Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender said Scharschmidt and Mullings “are finally reaping the consequences of their decision to carry and use knives”.
He said: “Carrying a knife is not the norm, it will not keep you safe and the impact of committing this sort of crime is huge, not only for the victim and their loved ones, but for the young offenders and their families and for the wider community.
“I hope this outcome will help to bring some comfort to Dontae’s family and friends as they continue to come to terms with his loss.”
Police are urging anyone with concerns that someone they know may be involved in knife crime to call 101, contact them online or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.