TWO 16-year-old boys who murdered another teenager in a park have been given life sentences.
Darrian Williams became the innocent victim of a ‘postcode’ gang feud when he was attacked in Rawnsley Park, Easton.
Darrian, who had just turned 16, was playing with friends when he suffered a single, unsurvivable stab wound on February 14 this year.
He died just over an hour later after the attack in Old Market, after being picked up by a van driver who tried to get help after the teenager flagged him down.
Bristol Crown Court was told that before attacking Darrian his killers – who were then aged only 15 – shouted: “Are you a 1-6?”
This was a reference to a Fishponds-based gang, named after the BS16 postcode, which had been in conflict with another gang, known as the 2-4s or 2s, associated with St Paul’s and St Jude’s.
But the detective who led the murder inquiry says there was no evidence Darrien was member of any gang: he did not have a knife and was “just a 16-year-old boy out with his friends”.
His killers cannot be named for legal reasons, as they are under 18.
They were found guilty of murder by a jury at Bristol Crown Court last month.
Returning to the court today, they were given mandatory life sentences and told they will serve a minimum of 15 years and 76 days before they are eligible for parole.
Both boys were also given sentences for possessing a bladed article, which will be served at the same time as their life sentences.
Darrian’s family spoke about the impact of his death in statements read out in court.
Mum’s ‘grief and devastation are beyond words’
His mother, Charlene Williams, said his death had caused “unfathomable pain”.
She said: “Darrian was tragically murdered at just 16 years of age due to knife crime and his life has been stolen and with it the light and joy he brought to our family.
“The grief and devastation are beyond words and my life, and the life of those who loved Darrian, will never be the same.
“Darrian was my child, a beloved brother, grandson, nephew and friend, and a source of happiness for all of us. His loss has torn our family apart and has left wounds that will never heal.
“As a mother, I feel lost, traumatised and I feel like I now live with a pain that can never go away.
“Living without him has broken me in a way I cannot fully describe, and each day without him is another reminder of what I have lost.
“I feel that all joy and peace has gone forever.”
‘Massive impact’ on whole family
His aunt, Tiffany Williams, said she had “lost her sidekick” with Darrian’s death.
She said: “Darrian’s murder has had a massive impact on the whole family. The children’s emotions have been all over the place.
“Since he died, I’m a shell of my former self in looks, weight and also in personality. I really struggle to eat because of the stress and I’ve lost a huge amount of weight.
“I haven’t had a full night’s sleep since it happened unless it was with the aid of sleeping tablets.”
After being stabbed in the back Darrian fled to Easton Way, where he tried to flag down motorists for help.
A van driver took him to West Street in Old Market where, despite the efforts of members of the public and medics, he died.
‘Utterly senseless’ killing
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Neil Meade said: “Darrian’s killing was utterly senseless and I’m pleased that today the two boys responsible have been handed prison sentences.
“He was your typical 16-year-old boy hanging out with his friends in the park when he was set upon by these two boys who were clearly intent on causing him serious harm and ultimately killed him.
“Darrian’s family have spoken bravely about the effect his death has had on them and they deserve a huge amount of credit for how they have dealt with what has been an unimaginably difficult 10 months for them.”
‘Nothing to suggest’ Darrian was involved in gangs
During the trial Michael Burrows KC, prosecuting, said the “1-6” referred to by the killers is a gang “associated with the Fishponds, Hillfields and Oldbury Court areas”.
He said: “In recent years, it has been in conflict with another gang, the 2-4s or 2s, which is associated with the St Paul’s and St Jude’s areas of Bristol.”
As they left one of the killers shouted “2s on top”, a reference to the other gang.
The court also heard that one of the offenders started carrying a knife after seeing a friend attacked with a machete in the Broadmead branch of McDonald’s by Fishponds man Joel Binnings, aged 20, less than a week previously on February 8.
Although Darrian had previously had an altercation with one of his killers, DI Meade said there was no evidence that he had anything to do with any gang.
DI Meade told the Voice: “One of our strands of investigation was to look around membership of those two groups.
“There were comments made during the incident that he was potentially a member of the 1-6 group but there’s nothing to suggest he was a member of that group.
“Darrian wasn’t armed, he wasn’t carrying anything.
“He was just a 16-year-old boy out with his friends in Rawnsley Park.
“He did nothing to deserve what happened that night.
“No good can come of the decision to carry a knife and there is no place for it in our communities. It’s had a devastating impact on far too many young people and families.”