A teenager who fatally stabbed his former friend, 15-year-old Pharrell Garcia, with a pocket knife in East London has been sentenced at the Old Bailey after admitting to the crime in a message to his online girlfriend.
The 16-year-old youth, whose identity is protected due to his age, received a seven-year prison sentence for manslaughter, which includes an additional five-year extended license period due to concerns about his dangerousness.
Pharrell Garcia sustained a single stab wound to the heart during the altercation on Stellman Close, Hackney, shortly before 4:00 PM BST on July 23, 2024.
The court was informed that the two boys, once friends, had a falling out and were arranging to confront each other.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that the defendant had sent a message to the girl, stating, “I think I just killed Pharrell. I accidentally stabbed him in the heart, but I aimed for his leg.”
While delivering the sentence, Judge Philip Katz KC remarked that after stabbing Pharrell, the defendant pursued him, still holding the knife, and fled upon witnessing him collapse.
“The arrival of the victim’s grandmother and uncle at the scene must have been a heartbreaking moment,” the judge noted. “The loss of a 15-year-old boy is a tragedy, and the fact that he was killed by another child of the same age compounds that tragedy.”
The judge emphasized to the defendant, “You are a dangerous offender, and the risks you pose to public safety are grave.”
It was stated in court that Pharrell’s family opted not to provide victim impact statements as it was “too overwhelming” for them.
Prosecutor Mark Fenhalls KC expressed the profound impact on the family, stating, “The devastation they are experiencing is wholly understandable in these circumstances. Being present when he passed away has been too much for them to bear.”
Defence barrister Beth O’Reilly KC highlighted the history between the boys, who had known each other since primary school, and described the situation as one of profound hopelessness.
During the trial, the defendant had asserted that he acted in self-defence; however, Judge Katz firmly refuted this, declaring, “This was never a case of self-defence.”
