Teenage boy from Manchester charged with perverting the course of justice

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A teenager who was arrested in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Yousef Makki has been charged with two additional offences, a court has heard.

Makki, a pupil at the private Manchester Grammar school, was fatally stabbed in the suburb of Hale Barns, Trafford, on 2 March.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is under 18, appeared at Manchester youth court on Thursday to be charged with perverting the course of justice.

He was also charged with conspiracy to commit robbery of a third party in a separate incident. Simon Csoka QC, defending, said the boy intended to plead not guilty to those offences.

He was previously charged with possession of a bladed article. A further charge of assisting an offender was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The boy sat between his parents and spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the hearing.

Makki’s mother, Deborah, sat at the back of the courtroom and wept as Martin Reid, prosecuting, outlined brief details of the case.

The district judge, John Temperley, referred the case to be heard at Manchester crown court on 30 May.

Another 17-year-old boy, who also cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to murder and is due to stand trial on 18 June.