Bardia Shojaeifard Sentenced to Life for Murder of Alfie Lewis

Bardia Shojaeifard, a 15-year-old boy, has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 13 years for the murder of Alfie Lewis, another 15-year-old, in Leeds last November. Shojaeifard, who stabbed Alfie in the heart and leg in full view of school children, claimed during his trial that he was scared of Alfie. This case highlights the issue of knife crime among young people, as noted by Mr. Justice Cotter who lifted reporting restrictions to foster public debate. In a separate case, 17-year-old Yura Varybrus was sentenced to 16 years for fatally stabbing Charlie Cosser, also 17, at a party in West Sussex. Varybrus, who was heavily intoxicated, did not know his victim and claimed he could not remember the incident. Both cases underscore the devastating impact of knife violence among teenagers and the anguish felt by the victims' families.