A mum whose 17-year old son was hacked to death with a machete during a gang feud forgave his four young killers as they began life in jail today.
Mother of two Tracey Norman, 42, said she believed God would “support” those who murdered her eldest child Josiah, as she urged them to be “the best men and fathers you can be.”
Josiah, of Salford, Greater Manchester, was knifed repeatedly and run over by a car in a revenge hit after he was wrongly arrested over a shooting at the family home of one of his killers.
He suffered fatal wounds and died just 76 minutes later in hospital.
At Manchester Crown Court, Tracey wept as she spoke of her forgiveness for Dillon Saunders, 19, Kellan Gummery, 19, Mickel Liburd, 18, and Kaylan Crankshaw, 28, as they appeared for sentence after being convicted of murder.
“What happened has destroyed many, many lives but I want you to know that whilst I hate what happened that night I do not hate you,” said Mrs Norman. “I refuse to allow hatred or bitterness in my heart.
“The epidemic of knife crime has devastated so many family’s and victims families and friends those like you who lose their lives to prison.
“I raised Josiah as a Christian and I hope I will be with my son in heaven. The fact is I forgive you. There is a god that forgives you and supports you and you can still make something of it. Please make better choices in the life ahead of you and become in the future, the best men and fathers you can be.”
The fatal attack took place a month after trainee electrician Josiah was one of four suspects arrested over two shootings - one at the home of Gummery’s mother in Salford.
CCTV footage had shown a youth on a pushbike firing towards one of the addresses, but Josiah was later eliminated from the investigation.
Later the teenager, who had just celebrated his 17th birthday, had kissed Mrs Norman goodbye and was walking down the street with a friend when two passing cars made an abrupt U-turn and pulled up alongside them.
Liburd and Gummery, who were in a white Fiat 500, got out and attacked him with a machete and a knife.
Josiah managed to get to his feet and tried to run away but Crankshaw and Saunders, who were in a Mini, deliberately drove at him and knocked him over before completing the frenzied assault.
In her statement Mrs Norman added: “Josiah was my first son and he was my world. He filled us with laughter and fun. He was loyal and has a good heart and his smile was loved by everyone.”
Both cars used in the murder were later found burnt out next to each other. The four suspects were arrested later. Gummery, Liburd and Crankshaw pleaded guilty to murder whilst Saunders denied wrongdoing.
Crankshaw and Saunders were ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years each while Gummery will have to serve a minimum of 18 years and Liburd a minimum of 15 years.
Judge Nicholas Dean QC told them: “This court has heard moving evidence from the victims mother. She demonstrated the pain, anguish and distress she has felt on her and her family.
“The fact is you have also caused similar damage to your parents and relatives, many of whom were quite clearly moved by what Mrs Norman was saying. They will suffer a significant loss by the fact you will be spending a great deal of time in prison.”
