What turns a child into a cold-blooded killer? From the machete attack by two 12-year-olds, to the brutal stabbing of Brianna Ghey - experts reveal why kids are committing most heinous of crimes
A series of deeply violent, sinister murders and attacks carried out by children have hit the headlines in recent months. Last week, the 17-year-old boy who stalked and murdered schoolgirl Holly Newton, 15, was found guilty of murder in just the latest youth case to reach the courtroom.From the killing of Brianna Ghey by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe to that of Shawn Seesahai by two unnamed 12-year-olds, some of Britain's most dreadful crimes have involved shockingly young perpetrators.MailOnline spoke to clinical and forensic psychologist and co-host of Locked-Up Living Dr Naomi Murphy about some of the most chilling crimes to go through the UK's courts in recent times.Dr Murphy, who has almost two decades of experience working with some of the country's most dangerous criminals, including teenagers convicted of murder, told MailOnline how those at the heart of such cases are often 'really damaged'.She said: 'Children who kill are not happy children, they are children who are disturbed, they are damaged, and so who knows what they were also contending with while at home. 'People who behave sadistically, sadism is often relishing in glee at hurting or having power over someone else, is often a way of coping with your own vulnerabilities.'Here, MailOnline takes a look at some disturbing recent cases - and the possible motives behind them.Holly Newton - murdered by a 16-year-old in January 2023 Holly Newton, 15, suffered 36 wounds after a teenager who had been reported to police for allegedly stalking her attacked her in the street with a kitchen knife Holly was followed for 45 minutes by her killer, who claimed in court he had only meant to kill himselfSchoolgirl Holly Newton, 15, was stabbed to death in an alleyway by a 16-year-old boy a court heard was 'stalking' her on her way home from school in January 2023. The teenager and keen dancer had been shopping with friends in Hexham, Northumberland, when the boy - now 17 - followed her for 45 minutes before launching a savage attack with a kitchen knife in which he stabbed her 'many, many times'.When a 16-year-old boy she was with at the time attempted to intervene, he was also stabbed and required surgery to wounds to his shoulder, arm and thigh.Holly was left with 36 injuries after the boy stabbed her 12 times, slashed her 19 times, and caused five 'defensive' injuries in a frenzy which snapped the knife. The killer - who cannot be named because of his age - claimed in court he had only wanted to kill himself and had no memory of stabbing the schoolgirl. He admitted manslaughter, but was convicted of murder by a jury.Chillingly the court heard that before the murder the teenager had become obsessed with Holly, and was effectively 'stalking her'. Holly's killer (right) then confronted her at a bus stop before stabbing her 36 times, and injuring a friend she was with at the timeThe night before she was killed, her mother was so worried that she contacted the police about the boy at 9:40pm, as he had turned up uninvited at their home in Haltwhistle.Officers arranged to go and meet the mother and daughter at 4pm the next day, but the appointment was pushed back to 8pm as Holly 'pleaded with her mother to let her go out with friends' after school.The circumstances were so severe that it was agreed Holly shouldn't leave school if the teenager was outside.She had texted a friend to say the boy was 'basically stalking' her, adding: 'He's gonna follow me until I talk to him'.Brianna Ghey - murdered by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe in February 2023 Brianna Ghey, 16, was stabbed 28 times in Linear Park, Cheshire in March 2023 in a crime which shocked the nationSchoolgirl Brianna Ghey was murdered in a killing motivated in part by transphobia by 15-year-olds, Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe.Jenkinson and accomplice Ratcliffe lured the schoolgirl to Linear Park, Culcheth, where she was stabbed 28 times to the head, neck, chest and back.At her trial, it was revealed Jenkinson had a fascination with violence, torture, and murder and falsely claimed to have killed two victims already, talking of a desire to take body parts as sick souvenirs.Both Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were found guilty of murder and were sentenced to life in prison at Manchester Crown Court, and the judge permitted for the teenagers to be named publicly for the first time.Both appeared emotionless during much of the proceedings. Scarlett Jenkinson, who was 15 at the time of the crime, had watched torture videos on the dark web and fantasised about taking body parts as trophies Eddie Ratcliffe, who was also 15 at the time of Brianna's death, played with fidget toys or completed puzzles during the trialThey were allowed to play with fidget toys or do crossword books throughout proceedings, and Ratcliffe was allowed to type his answers instead of answering after the court heard he had stopped speaking to anybody except his mother after being charged.Dr Murphy said the apparent detachment of the killers post-murder was a 'defence' as they avoided the reality of the heinous crime they had committed.She told MailOnline: 'It's not actually in anyone's interest to be harming other people so people are actually traumatised by their offending behaviour as well, so people go into a state of detachment after committing offences.'Often it's that same detachment from humanity that's enabled them to harm others in the first place. There is a detachment, it's kind of like a dissociative state that people get into.'Describing the pair's behaviour in court, she said: 'If people have a fidget toy, for instance, it gives you displacement activity, it's a bit like adults might want a cigarette. 'If you are doing something with your hands it allows you to get away from what's in your head. It serves as a distraction.'Speaking about Jenkinson's online history of watching sadistic videos on the dark web, she said this alone would not have caused the teenager to kill.'I don't think that online material would produce that level of disturbance in a child, I think they would already have to have been harmed to be disturbed enough to do that.'But if somebody is spending a lot of time online engaged in fantastical material, even sadistic fantastical material, then obviously they are building up more of a picture in their head of behaviour they could act out.'Shawn Seesahai - murdered by two 12-year-olds in November 2023 Shawn Seesahai, 19, was stabbed to death in Wolverhampton with a machete by two 12-year-old boysThe two 12-year-old killers of Shawn Seesahai, 19, are believed to be Britain's youngest knife murderers.Shawn was stabbed to death in a brutal machete attack in a Wolverhampton park on November 13, 2023. A judge has yet to make a ruling on whether the pair can be named at a sentencing hearing later this year. Evidence heard by the jury showed the pair's twisted minds, with one posing with a photograph of the machete that would be used to murder Shawn just hours before the attack.A conversation between the two killers on Snapchat showed how one was 'putting on a lot of front', Dr Murphy said.The first killer said: 'Everyone's talking abt (sic) it, literally everyone, everyone knows.'The second responded with a voice note, saying: 'It is what it is.'They then shared more messages, saying: 'I'm scared man' - before the other says 'I'm not', followed by the acronym 'IDRC' which means 'I don't really care'.The other one then responds with a voice note saying: 'I ain't said nowt (sic) cause every time I talk about it, like I act weird apparently so (inaudible) comes and goes.'There is then a response saying: 'I'm just scared your you too (sic).'A month-long trial was told Mr Seesahai was shoulder-barged by the smaller of the two defendants, who 'often' carried a machete with a 42.5cm-long blade. He was then punched, kicked, stamped on and 'chopped' at with the weapon. They told the court they both played video games in the hours after the killing, claiming they did not know Mr Seesahai had died until the following day. One of the killers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was pictured with a machete just hours before the murderDr Murphy said the second boy, who claimed he was 'not scared' was likely to be attempting to appear 'hard'. 'Adolescents do tend to underestimate the risk to themselves, that's why there's so much risk-taking amongst teenagers because they don't really think about the long-term impacts. There's an immaturity there.'I would say that to be discussing it in that way, saying I'm not scared, that is somebody who is using a lot of bravado to cope with the situation. 'My guess is you wouldn't have to push that hard with that child in a room to get them to acknowledge that they are actually scared.'Criminal psychologist Linda Sage told MailOnline: 'The motivations behind Brianna's murder and Shawn's were different, but also similar in the perpetrator's need for power and control, this is usually lacking somewhere in their own life, whatever their backgrounds are. 'Brianna's was predatory, luring a particular victim to a particular location, Shawn's on the other hand, the location was chosen, but the victim could have been anyone that fitted into the perpetrator's mindset. 'Other young killings have been for retaliation over perceived injustices or jealousy, the motivations are different, but the need for power and control is the same.'Muhammad Ali - murdered by a 15-year-old in January Muhammad Ali, 17, from Birmingham, was murdered by a 15-year-old seeking revenge for an attack on his friend Muhammad was entirely innocent and had no idea what the 15-year-old was talking about - but was stabbed in the heartTeenager Muhammad Ali, 17, from Birmingham, was murdered by two teenagers out for revenge after an attack on a friend.Muhammad had met with a friend at the Bullring on January 20 and was enjoying a hot chocolate when the two teenagers, who have not been named, approached the pair and accused them of attacking a friend. Neither Muhammad or his friend knew anything about the attack, and were not responsible.The pair continued to quiz Muhammad and his friend, until Muhammad told the pair to go away because he didn't know what they were talking about.One of the boys then pulled out a large knife and stabbed him in the heart before fleeing.Ali was taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, but the damage to his heart was too severe and he was pronounced dead at around 6.40pm.One 15-year-old boy was convicted of murder and possession of a knife. The other was convicted of manslaughter and possession of a bladed article, after a court heard he had 'encouraged' the stabbing.They will be sentenced in October.Alfie Lewis - murdered by Bardia Shojaeifard in November 2023 Alfie Lewis, 15, was stabbed to death outside a school in Leeds, West YorkshireKnife-obsessed killer Bardia Shojaeifard was described in court as appearing to be a completely normal teenager before he stabbed 15-year-old Alfie Lewis to death with fatal wounds to the heart and leg.Chilling footage showed the defendant in school uniform minutes before he launched an unprovoked attack on Alfie, who was walking to meet with friends.The killer is then seen fleeing the scene and returning home after stabbing the teenager in broad daylight in front of other schoolchildren. The court heard the killer, who was 14 at the time, had 'no interest' in crime, drugs or gangs, but horrifying images show the teenager posing with knives. Bardia Shojaeifard, who was 14, at the time of the murder must serve a minimum of 13 years for the killingDr Murphy said Shojaeifard probably fled home simply because it was 'familiar', but added she believes he 'would not have appeared normal' due to his obsession with weapons.She said: 'Our homes should be our place of safety, and even if his home wasn't that safe place it's familiar. My guess is that he's in shock at what he's done and he goes into automatic pilot and then just goes home.'I don't know if he would have seemed normal. That's quite a titillated fascination with knives which would suggest to me a preoccupation with trying to be powerful to defend against vulnerability. 'I would expect that this is someone who has probably felt quite physically threatened at points in his life so carrying weapons will make him feel more powerful.'Brandishing them about and boasting effectively, it's not that different to older generations beefing it up down the gym and walking round with massive biceps on show.'A knife is the way that younger people would do that to depict I'm hard, don't mess with me.' Shojaeifard claimed one picture had been edited to superimpose a blade in his hand Another photo shown to the court had the boy holding a knife and wearing a scarf around his face whilst on holidayShojaeifard claimed one picture had been edited to superimpose a blade in his hand - an alteration he said was made because 'it was funny.'Another photo shown to the court had the boy holding a knife and wearing a scarf around his face whilst on holiday to his family's ancestral home of Iran. He said his uncle was a craftsman who made knives and he wanted to show his friends the cultural differences from England, while Shojaeifard's father, a car mechanic, said it was a 'model'.The teen denied murder, claiming he feared for his life when he pulled out the weapon, which police said had a black-painted handle. He was found guilty by a jury after a trial in April.Mikey Roynon - murdered by Shane Cunningham in June 2023 Mikey Roynon was stabbed to death at a party - three teenagers, who took knives to the event, were charged with his murderMikey Roynon, 16, from Bristol, was knifed in the back of the neck with a zombie knife at a house on Eastfield Avenue, Bath on June 10 last year. Three teenagers, all 16, were arrested and it was found that all three took knives with them to a schoolgirl's 16th party.One of the boys admitted stabbing Mikey but claimed he was acting in self defence. He said the victim had swung a knife towards his friends. A jury found Shane Cunningham, who stabbed Mikey, guilty of murder and his two friends Leo Knight and Cartel Bushnell guilty of manslaughter. All three had initially been charged with murder. Sean Cunningham, 16, who stabbed Mikey, was found guilty of his murder by a jury Cartel Bushnell , 16, was found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder after a trial earlier this yearBus CCTV footage shows the boys travelling to the party, with a weapon at one point being clearly visible through Cunningham's trousers. Footage of Cunningham's police interview showed how he remained staring into space and unresponsive throughout.Not even answering with 'no comment', the teenager appeared to be pretending the interview was not going ahead.Dressed in grey joggers and a t-shirt, he refused to give any answers to police questions, although the court he did later admit stabbing Mikey. The other boys acted similarly, either remaining silent or responding with no comment, police footage shows. Leo Knight, also 16, was found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murderDr Murphy said this is an unusual tactic that suggests the boys were 'really damaged' individuals.She told MailOnline: 'That is quite a hard strategy to use with the police. It's quite hard to even do a no comment interview where you're saying no comment. 'To sit there ignoring and not answering, that's individuals who are able to muster up defences to not engage with material that's upsetting or difficult or painful, and again I would say that, that isn't something that a healthy child is able to do.'That's a child that's already had to toughen themselves up and push through.'What's really sad is we're look at those and they'll look like monsters because of their inability to be remorseful. Actually that's a really damaged person to be able to behave like that.'My experience is that people act out brutality to the degree that they've experienced themselves. So if they are able to be that brutal, if they are able to get pleasure out of somebody else's pain, they've experienced that themselves probably.'Justin McLaughlin - murdered by Daniel Haig in October 2021 Justin McLaughlin, 14, died in October 2021 after being stabbed in the heart after a fight broke out at a station in GlasgowJustin McLaughlin, 14, died in October 2021 after being stabbed in the heart by Daniel Haig, who was 16 at the time, at Glasgow's High Street station. Haig stabbed Justin after a fight broke out between a group of young people on the platform.During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, the court heard Haig had become involved in a scuffle with Justin and a group of his friends at the railway station on 16 October.The teenager pulled a knife out of his bag and was seen on CCTV chasing the group.Justin tripped and fell before Haig caught up and stabbed him.Haig told the trial he had a knife in his rucksack for 'protection' after claiming to have been attacked the day before. He also said he had not intended to kill the 14-year-old.He was given a life sentence for the crime by judge Lord Clark at the High Court in Edinburgh in August 2023. Dr Murphy told MailOnline many young killers may have issues at home, including being brought up in situations where extreme violence is commonplace. Daniel Haig, now 18, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years, but this has now been reduced to 13 yearsAn appeal against Haig's lengthy sentence revealed how he grew up surrounded by criminals in a family in which violence, including with weapons, was 'normalised'. The judge, reducing his 16-year minimum term by three years, said: 'The information now available to the court shows exposure to extreme domestic violence from an early age, first as a witness, later as a victim, and thereafter as a perpetrator.'The appellant's mother is reported to have stabbed his father and, on a later date, to have threatened the appellant with a knife while he was holding his younger sibling.'The older relative, association with whom seems to have triggered an escalation in the appellant's behaviour, is alleged to be involved in criminal behaviour in the east end of Glasgow and to have links to serious and organised crime.'His father and uncle are currently serving lengthy prison sentences for violence, and an older maternal cousin is serving a prison sentence for murder.'It is clear that the appellant has grown up in a familial environment in which the use of violence, including the use of weapons, has been normalised.'Charlie Cosser - murdered by Yura Varybrus in July 2023 Charlie Cosser was murdered by someone he had never met before after a disagreement broke out at a party Charlie's killer Yura Varybrus, who will be 18 this November, was jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years earlier this monthA 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death at an end of term party in West Sussex on July 22 last year.Charlie Cosser was murdered by someone he had never met before after a disagreement broke out after his killer was asked to leave the event. Charlie's killer Yura Varybrus, who will be 18 this November, was jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years earlier this month - and the judge at Brighton Crown Court ruled his identity could be revealed.He stabbed his victim three times in the chest, and Charlie had a cardiac arrest on the way to hospital caused by internal bleeding. He died two days later. The teenager was found around ten to 20 minutes after the stabbing, sitting on a pallet complaining his 'chest and back really hurts' and was rushed to hospital. Varybrus showed no emotion as the verdict, finding him guilty of murder, was read.He claimed he had no memory of the incident, having drunk 'heavily' throughout the night. The killer, who gave no evidence, burnt his clothes in a fire pit at a friend's house and went for a carvery lunch with his parents the day after the murder.
