Teenage boy admits murdering Leo Ross

A teenager has admitted murdering 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross who was fatally stabbed in the stomach in a Birmingham park, as well as assaulting three elderly women in separate incidents.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to murder at a plea hearing at Birmingham Crown Court today (29 January 2026), thereby accepting that he stabbed Leo Ross and that he intended to kill him or cause him really serious injury.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to separate attacks on three elderly women near the same location between 19 and 21 January 2025. They were pushed to the ground and struck by the defendant and suffered serious injuries.

On 21 January 2025, Leo who was on his way home from school, was found gravely injured at Trittiford Mill Park in Birmingham.

Emergency services who attended carried out life-saving treatment before Leo was transported to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where he underwent surgery. He was pronounced dead at 7.30pm that same day.

The defendant, who was 14 at the time of the offence, was seen acting suspiciously at the scene. He left when police arrived but was quickly identified and arrested that same evening.

A four-week trial was due to start at Birmingham Crown Court on 9 February 2026, but the defendant entered guilty pleas today.

Building the case:

The Crown Prosecution Service built a comprehensive case using witness statements, forensic evidence and detailed analysis of CCTV evidence to track the defendant’s movements, which left him no option but to plead guilty.

CCTV placed the defendant near the scene immediately before and after Leo’s murder. A knife matching the dimensions of Leo’s injury was recovered near the scene and forensic examination linked it to both the murder and the defendant, and clothing seized from the defendant's home also contained Leo’s blood.

Jonathan Roe, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was a senseless act of violence that has devastated a family and robbed a 12-year-old boy of his life. Leo Ross should have had his whole future ahead of him, and he should have been able to walk home from school without harm.

“It seems unimaginable that a 14-year-old would use a knife to intend to murder another, or seriously injure them causing their death, but that is what occurred on that day.

“We worked closely with police to build a strong and compelling case using forensic evidence, witness testimony and CCTV evidence.  The defendant's guilty plea today means Leo’s loved ones have at least been spared the ordeal of a trial. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss.

“There are no excuses for carrying a knife and I hope this case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of carrying and using knives."

The defendant will be sentenced on 10 February 2026 at Birmingham Crown Court.