Three teenagers guilty of murdering Kyle Hackland

Three teenagers have been found guilty of murdering a 17-year-old boy in South Manchester in November last year. A fourth teenager has been found guilty of manslaughter.

On 22 November 2022 Lewis Ludford, 18, Yousef Sesay, 18, and a 16-year-old boy, armed with knives and wearing face coverings, attacked Kyle Hackland on Southlea Road in Manchester. A 17-year-old boy drove them to and from the scene.

Kyle and his friend James Todd were on Southlea Road when they heard a screech as a car pulled up and Lewis Ludford, Yousef Sesay and a 16-year-old got out, leaving the 17-year-old still in the vehicle.

The males were seeking out Todd in retaliation for an incident the day before. There was a brief altercation before Todd brandished a knife and ran towards the car before fleeing the scene via a nearby alleyway.

Kyle continued along the street believing the incident was over. However, Lewis Ludford and the 16-year-old approached him, punching, kicking and stabbing him. A short time later Yousef Sesay joined in the attack as witnesses heard shouts of encouragement between them to stab him.

Kyle was taken to hospital in a critical condition and despite undergoing emergency surgery in hospital he never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead at 4:36pm that day, the cause of his death was multiple stab wounds.

The three then got back into the car and the 17-year-old drove off at speed from the scene. They dropped Ludford at Manchester Royal Infirmary due to superficial injuries he received during the altercation. The remaining three headed to the 17-year old's address where they arranged to go into hiding and for the vehicle to be disposed of.

When they realised that they had been identified as suspects in the murder, all four teenagers handed themselves in to the police.

Richard Holliday, of CPS North West, said: "This case is yet another tragic reminder of the cost of street violence and the use of weapons.

"Kyle Hackland was the victim of a violent and senseless attack at the hands of other young men who were prepared to dish out revenge on anyone associated with the person they had a grudge against.

"The CPS case was that they all took part in the attack, whether it was driving to the scene or inflicting the fatal blow and today the jury have reached the same conclusion by finding three of them guilty of murder and the fourth who drove the vehicle guilty of manslaughter.

"Though nothing can bring Kyle back, I hope his family can find some solace in the fact that the offenders have been brought to justice for what they did to him. Our thoughts remain with them at this time."