Boy, 15, charged over Leeds death crash Published duration 29 November 2017

image caption Clockwise from top left: Ellis and Elliot Thornton-Kimmitt, Robbie Meerun, Anthony Armour and Darnell Harte

A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court charged in connection with a car crash that killed five people in Leeds.

Ellis, 12, and Elliott Thornton-Kimmitt, 14, died along with Darnell Harte, 15, Anthony Armour and Robbie Meerun, both 24, when the stolen car they were in hit a tree on Saturday.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, has been charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was remanded in custody during a hearing at Leeds Youth Court.

image copyright Reuters image caption Police said a car crashed into a tree in the Meanwood area of Leeds on Saturday night

Appearing in the glass-fronted dock wearing a tracksuit, the boy had his left arm in a sling and with visible injuries to his right eye.

Answering to district judge Marie Mallon, he spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth.

After he was remanded in custody, the boy leaned his head against the glass and cried as he spoke to a man and a woman believed to be his parents.

He moved his fingers through the gaps in the court security barrier for the woman to hold before he was led away.

The boy is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on 13 December.

image copyright AFP/Getty Images image caption Stonegate Road in the Meanwood area of the city was closed to allow for recovery and forensic work

The three boys and two men died when the black Renault Clio they were travelling in crashed into a tree in Stonegate Road, Meanwood, at 21:54 GMT.

West Yorkshire Police said the car had been stolen in the Headingley area at about 18:30.

The force said that six people, including the five who died, were in the car at the time it crashed.