Teen Killer Kian Moulton Named After Judge Lifts Reporting Restrictions
A teenager who murdered a 12-year-old boy in a random and unprovoked attack in Birmingham can now be publicly identified, following a High Court ruling that lifted reporting restrictions. The killer is Kian Moulton, aged 15, from Yardley, who is currently held at a young offender institution in London.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing Details
After applications from media outlets including Birmingham Live, the Daily Mail, and the BBC, High Court judge Justice Choudhury removed the restrictions before sentencing Moulton to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years. The sentencing took place at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, but legal reasons delayed the confirmation of his identity until now.
Moulton was 14 years old when he fatally stabbed Leo Ross in the stomach at Trittiford Mill Park in Hall Green on January 21, 2025, around 3:30 pm. This senseless killing marked the culmination of a three-day rampage in the park, during which he also attacked three elderly women. Living nearby, Moulton had terrorised the nature reserve, cycling around to target vulnerable individuals, and then lingered at the scene to derive pleasure from the chaos he caused.
Background and Mental Health Issues
The court heard that Moulton had a difficult childhood, involving exposure to domestic abuse and parental separation at a young age. He has had little contact with his mother since age four, with his father serving as his primary carer. Both parents later informed psychiatrists that Moulton exhibited a liking for violence and seemed to enjoy it.
His behavioural problems emerged as early as age two, leading to diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) by age seven. These conditions resulted in disruptive behaviour, anger, and resentment towards authority figures. Moulton also engaged in self-harm, including beating himself in the face and saving his blood, and repeatedly expressed that his parents would be better off if he were dead, having previously attempted suicide.
Not long before the offences in January 2025, police removed him from railway lines where he intended to commit suicide, and he was resistant to officers during the intervention. Throughout his childhood, Moulton lacked consistent access to support services and claimed to hear voices around the time of the attacks. His barrister noted surprise that he had not been diagnosed with schizophrenia, suggesting he might be too young for such a diagnosis.
Legal Admissions and Rehabilitation Challenges
Psychiatrists concluded that Moulton had a severe conduct disorder but stated it did not provide a defence for his actions. His refusal to discuss the killing or his state of mind has hindered experts from assessing the impact of his mental health on the crimes. Moulton formally admitted to murder, two offences of inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault, and possession of a knife in public at a court hearing last month.
However, he confessed his guilt earlier, with a chilling note found in his custodial room in July 2025, where he wrote: “I’m not going to lie. I will hold my hands up and say that I done it. I stabbed him. Lower right stomach.” While in custody, there have been further incidents of violence towards staff, fellow inmates, and himself, with little to no progress in his rehabilitation so far.
Judge's Remarks and Defence Statements
Justice Choudhury, during sentencing, branded Moulton's actions as cowardly for targeting vulnerable people and noted he lacked basic insight into the consequences. The judge remarked: “There is some suggestion in the reports that you are young for your age. However, it seems to me that your actions around the time of your offending indicate quite sophisticated, devious and callous thinking designed to throw people off your trail or to extract additional amusement from what you had done. I do not regard your perceived immaturity as in any way mitigating what you did.”
Alistair Webster KC, defending Moulton, stated it was impossible to give a logical reason for his actions and confirmed that his behaviour has shocked his own family, who have been forced to move away. The barrister added: “He will require, and I hope he gets, intensive work, aggressive work over the next few years if there is to be any significant hope of rehabilitation.”
