A teenager from Kearsley who murdered an 18-year-old in Bury town centre during a fight has been told he must serve a minimum of 15 years in jail.

King Sibanda, who can be named for the first time, fatally stabbed Abdikarim Abdalla Ahmed in March last year.

Manchester Crown Court heard the 17-year-old previously uploaded a rap song to Soundcloud glorifying violence and had been sent on a course to raise awareness about knife.

He was convicted of murder following a trial and admitted possession of a knife.

But the court heard he had not planned to kill Mr Ahmed but had stabbed his arm in response to being struck.

When on trial last year the jury heard Mr Ahmed, aged 18, was stabbed with a combat knife outside the Mill Gate Shopping Centre on Friday, March 11.

He "sought revenge" after he was allegedly punched in the face at The Rock Shopping Centre earlier that day by a youth who was among a group of young men which included Sibanda.

Mr Ahmed and his brother Faisal then confronted Sibanda on Market Street and he was stabbed by the defendant after throwing a punch.

He was taken to hospital where he died that same day.

Sibanda, from Beech Avenue, Kearsley, appeared in court to be sentenced.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, revealed alarming incidents which had taken place before the stabbing.

He said he had previously been convicted of having a knife and of assault.

He added: “He took part in a knife crime prevention programme called Behind the Blade.

“It focused on the effects of carrying a knife, the risk of serious harm and death and the impact on families and the wider community.

“In 2021 the defendant uploaded a song to Soundcloud and YouTube which appeared to glorify the use of weapons and knife violence.

“The lyrics included I am still trying to take man’s life … I will leave your rib cage empty.”

He also said a short time before the incident he was with a youth worker when he appeared to drop something which resembled a knife then ran off and had made reference to going back to “old ways” and that was going to “cop a shank” in messages sent before the murder.

Bernard Richmond KC, defending, said Sibanda had been a victim of “exploitation” and exposed to violence in his life.

He read a letter he had written for the judge.

It said: “I am deeply shock that Abdukarim died.

“It saddens me that those close to him will never see him again.

“I did not want or mean for this to happen.

“I did not want anyone to get hurt.

“I was put in a situation I did not want to be confronted with.

“Much as I do not agree with the facts of this case that has led to me being labelled a murderer I believe that God has a plan for me.”

Mr Richmond also said there was no intention to kill and no premeditation and he was a “young man” who would not be one of those in prison proud of what they had done.

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Judge Patrick Field KC said the manner in which Sibanda used the knife, which was shown on footage at sentence, showed he was very familiar with it.

He added: “It is clear that his case demonstrates yet again the tragic and utterly needs loss that results from knife crime.

“One young man, Abdukarim Ahmed died and that leaves behind a grieving mother and a grieving family.

“I must recognise that there is no sentence that I can pass that will remove that loss.

“As a consequence of the sentence I must pass on you will spend the rest of your youth and much of young adulthood in custody.”

Judge Field jailed Sibanda for life imposing a minimum term and ordered he must serve a minimum of 15 years in custody.