Coby Tristram: Teens sentenced after Zombie knife death of 18-year-old

Coby Tristram, 18, was stabbed following an altercation in Abingdon Avenue, Whitefield, on March 28. He was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the arm and died two weeks later.

Shams Benda, 18, of Victoria Grove in Bolton, alongside his three co-accused, Charlie Harrison, 21, of Mather Avenue in Whitefield, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy who both cannot be named, were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Monday following a trial last month. 

Two defendants appeared in the dock escorted by officers, while the other two appeared via video link. 

The court was told how the altercation lasted around “20 to 30 seconds” and a group of three, believed to be Mr Tristram, Harrison and the 17-year-old were seen racing towards a group of two, Benda and the 16-year-old.

Two of the co-accused, Charlie Harrison, and the 17-year-old, were charged with violent disorder and, respectively, possession of a bladed article and possession of an offensive weapon.

Benda and the defendant aged 16 were also both charged with possession of an offensive weapon. 

(Image: Newsquest) Last month, the 16-year-old boy stood trial accused of murder and an alternative count of manslaughter, while Harrison; Benda; and the 17-year-old boy, were accused of manslaughter.

However, following legal submissions by their defence teams, a judge ruled that a jury could not safely convict the four.

Harrison and the 17-year-old pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon. The 16-year-old and Benda pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

The court heard how three of the defendants already had a string of previous convictions between them for other offences including theft, robbery and drug-related offences. The unnamed 16-year-old defendant and Benda are also currently awaiting sentencing in the Youth Court, the former for a previous offence.

The judge noted that should the two be sentenced only for the possession of offensive weapons, both have already served sentences equal to or in excess of this charge.

Addressing the court, Harrison’s defence barrister added how the 21-year-old remained adamant that “he was not involved in drug dealing on that date (28 March)” and “carried a machete with him to protect himself, having fallen victim to a previous attack” requesting a 25% reduction in the overall sentencing for mitigating circumstances. 

Manchester Judge Nicholas Dean KC denied the reduction, as it could “not be justified” in relation to Harrison’s involvement in the violent disorder. 

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He said: “This sort of knife, also known as a Rambo or a Zombie knife, the sale of such weapons is prohibited because they are considered highly dangerous weapons. 

“The concern for Charlie Harrison was that he was carrying the weapon as a matter of routine as do too many people in Manchester and other cities. 

“This weapon, which is of a fearsome nature, emphasises the necessity for a deterrent element in sentencing.”

The judge added that the individual circumstances of the defendants, all of which faced difficult upbringings would be taken into consideration as mitigating circumstances, as well as the age of the defendants and their entries into guilty pleas.

An aggravating feature for all, however, was the fact that such weapons were seemingly carried as “routine” by the four defendants for what each of them believed to be a “good reason.”

Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: “Two of the defendants accept they were carrying weapons as a matter of routine, for what they deem as a good reason.

“For reasons that are all too common, and all too frequently lead to similar incidents in Manchester and other cities. Carrying these weapons needs to be met with a deterrent sentence.”

The 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to a 90-day youth rehabilitation order with intensive supervision and surveillance. The defendant is required to engage with youth justice 25 hours per week and undergo electric monitoring during a maximum supervision period of three years.

The sentence will be transferred to probation sentence once the defendant turns 18, including undertaking focused work to avoid re-offending. The defendant was also prohibited from any direct or indirect contact with the co-accused during this time.

Harrison received three years and 10 months in custody for his involvement in the crime – eight months of which he has already spent due to his time in custody.  

Benda was described by the judge as being in a “complicated position” legally due to him being 17 at the time the crime was commissioned.

The judge described how Benda’s previous 11 convictions for 19 offences, including the possession of cannabis, theft and burglary were considered “aggravating factors” in his sentencing.

Benda was sentenced to a 2 year community order programme undergoing 26 sessions and a rehabilitation requirement of 15 days. A curfew was deemed “not appropriate” given his time already spent in custody, the judge ruled. Benda is required to remain in custody until he is due at the youth court on December 2.

For the 17-year-old defendant, the judge described how the court’s powers remained “limited due to his age” and could only sentence to a maximum of 24 months for the charge in question.

The defendant’s sentence was reduced due to his young age at the time of the crime, his entrance of a guilty plea and mitigating circumstances. He was sentenced to 22 months detention and training, with their time already spent in custody being taken into account towards the full sentence.

Got a story? Email me at Leah.Collins@newsquest.co.uk