Father Demands Answers After Son's Murder in Birmingham Park
Christopher Ross has voiced his profound anger and grief following the sentencing of his son's 15-year-old killer, Kian Moulton, to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years. The tragic incident occurred on January 21, 2025, when 12-year-old Leo Ross was stabbed in the stomach at Trittiford Mill Park in Hall Green, Birmingham, while walking home from school.
Multiple Missed Opportunities
Mr Ross, 39, insists that there were multiple opportunities to arrest Moulton before the murder took place. In the days leading up to the attack, Moulton had attempted to drown an 82-year-old woman and assaulted two other individuals, demonstrating a pattern of escalating violence against strangers.
"100 per cent he was let down by the authorities," Mr Ross stated. "Maybe after the first assault, definitely after the second, let alone the third assault, and then the murder. I don’t know how they didn’t see he was there and got him sooner."
A Disturbing Pattern of Violence
During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, it was revealed that Moulton had told one of his elderly victims on January 19: "I tried to drown you, but now I'm going to kill you." He had pushed her into a river and struck her with her own walking stick.
Mr Justice Choudhury described Moulton as a disturbed young man who exhibited an unusual and disturbing pattern of escalating violence against strangers. After murdering Leo, Moulton cycled around the park, informing people that a boy had been stabbed and callously pretending to have discovered the body when police arrived.
Calls for Increased Safety Measures
In the wake of his son's death, Mr Ross is advocating for stronger protective measures in schools and communities. He believes that phones should be banned and more knife arches are necessary in educational institutions. Additionally, he emphasized the need for increased patrols in areas where children travel to and from school.
"In that area, I think there should be some sort of more patrols around there and stuff like that, to stop all the crime going on," he said. Reflecting on knife crime among young boys, Mr Ross suggested that boredom may play a significant role, stating, "They haven’t got nothing to do, I suppose, around there."
Remembering Leo
Mr Ross fondly remembered his son as a gentle and kind individual who enjoyed staying indoors, playing his PS5, and exploring nature, particularly rocks and gems. "He loved his school, he loved doing his homework and all that. He was the opposite to me. Absolute opposite to me," he shared. Leo was poised to do something special with his life, his father added.
Community and Campaign Efforts
In response to this tragedy and others like it, bereaved families are collaborating with campaigners such as Courtney Barrett, founder of the 'Binning Knives Saves Lives' initiative. Together, they are distributing emergency kits containing tourniquets, haemostatic gauze, and chest seals to schools and communities.
Barrett argued, "Many children like Leo Ross and Harvey Willgoose are dead because of our Government’s negligence in making sure school children are as safe as possible. Bleed control kits should be mandatory in schools, just like first aid kits are."
Government and Police Responses
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy commented on the issue, stating, "Every life lost to knife crime is an unmitigated tragedy. With Labour’s plan, any child caught carrying a knife will be given a mandatory, targeted intervention to stop them falling into a cycle of reoffending."
A spokesperson for the Home Office reiterated the government's commitment to halving knife crime within a decade, noting a 9% reduction under the current administration. Meanwhile, West Midlands Police was approached for comment but did not provide an immediate response.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about youth violence, community safety, and the effectiveness of interventions by authorities in preventing such tragedies.
