Man Jailed For Life For Schoolboy Murder

8 August 2011, 17:09 | Updated: 12 August 2011, 11:58

A man who speared a schoolboy to death with the broken handle of a golf club in broad daylight outside a village school has been told he'll serve at least 16 years behind bars before even being considered for bail.

Adam Moore, 20 was found guilty today at Northampton Crown Court.  The jury hear how he thrust the pointed shaft of the club 27 centimetres into the pelvis of 16 year-old Adil Basharat in front of other pupils.

The bayonet-style attack severed a main artery and the wound was so deep that the A-level student, who was the victim of mistaken identity, died two days later in hospital.

Moore of Cosgrove, Northants and three others - Freddy Wilson, 20, from Deanshanger, Jake Batten, 22, from Deanshanger and Daniel Anderson, 20, from Stony Stratford, Bucks - were charged with murder and violent disorder.

Moore and a fifth defendant, Billy Billingham, 19, of Bradville, Milton Keynes were also accused of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

Billingham was today cleared of all charges.

Northampton Crown Court was told the attack was launched because they believed wrongly that Adil was a man with the same first name who had been one of two Asians who had robbed Billingham of two wraps of cocaine in a graveyard at Wolverton, Bucks.

On Friday November 19 last year Adil and two friends were outside Kingsbrook School in Deanshanger, Northants at around 11am when Moore's car went past. Someone shouted 'Adil' and he responded.

The four whose faces were covered with clothing, were armed with walking crutches, a screwdriver and a metal bar as well as the golf club.

Moore was speaking to Billingham on the phone as he approached the group and called out "Adil."

During the confrontation, which happened in the mid morning break, the golf club broke and Adil, from Greenleys, Milton Keynes was stabbed fatally.

Prosecutor Benjamin Aina QC said "This case, sadly, is one of mistaken identity. The attack on the schoolboy who died was a complete mistake." He said the motive was one of revenge and was orchestrated by Billingham after his drugs had been taken from him.

He went on: "A group of school children were approached by four of the defendants - Adam Moore, Jake Batten, Daniel Anderson and Freddy Wilson. Some of those had their faces covered with clothing. The four men attacked the three schoolchildren with weapons including a golf club, walking crutches, a screwdriver a metal bar. They also attacked the school children with fists and their feet. At some time the golf club handle broke and the sharp end was thrust into the pelvis of Adil Basharat. This action caused the main artery to be severed and sadly Adil was pronounced dead on 21 November."

After the attack the four went to Moore's home where they were found an hour later by police hiding in a summer house. The jury was told the washing machine was on and inside were two hoodies.

Mr Aina said the four were arrested. Jake Batten said: "I wish I had stayed in and played with my new computer game. "

In a police interview Batten alleged Moore had said: "I struck him with a golf club. I didn't mean to do it. It went into him."

After the hearing DCI Martin Kinchin, who led the investigation, said: "It was an horrific murder. A school pupil was killed in broad daylight outside his school in front of other pupils. This happened in rural South Northamptonshire. It is completely unheard of."

Miss Basharat described the heartbreaking day her brother's funeral took place, on what would have been his 17th birthday. 

Speaking to Heart, Sobia said "He had so much to live for and I remember how we celebrated when Adil got his GCSE results, he was studying for his A levels and had such plans for his future.  He was cruelly taken away and it does not matter how much time passes, Adil's loss will stay with us forever. We will miss him every minute of every day and we will never understand how this has happened."

Sobia added "These men that attacked Adil, they still have their lives. Their families can still see them and they will still have a future. They will have the opportunity to get married, have their own family and live their lives.

For me and my family we have been passed a sentence which is for life, a sentence we will have to live with every day of our lives.'

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Kinchin, from Northamptonshire Police, said Adil was a "blameless young man'' and that he was pleased with today's sentences. "I hope that the sentences passed out today offer some form of closure for Adil's family and their tragic loss.''