Teenagers to face trial over Makki death

10 June 2019, 12:20 | Updated: 10 June 2019, 12:22

Two teenagers will go before a jury over the death of a grammar school pupil after a judge confirmed the trial date for next week.

Yousef Makki, 17, was stabbed in Hale Barns, a leafy village south of Manchester on March 2.

A 17-year-old youth has pleaded not guilty to murder and a second youth, also aged 17, has admitted possession of a lock knife but denies perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Neither of the teenagers can be named because of their age.

Mr Justice Bryan, sitting via video link at Manchester Crown Court, confirmed both will go before a jury on June 18, for a trial scheduled to last two weeks.

One youth appeared by video link from an undisclosed location, with the second sat in the dock, watched by his parents in the public gallery, with around a dozen members of the press sat in the benches behind them.

The hour-long hearing dealt with pre-trial issues and administrative matters which cannot be reported.

Yousef, who was from an Anglo-Lebanese family living in Burnage, Manchester, had dreamed of becoming a heart surgeon and won a scholarship to attend the prestigious £12,000-a-year Manchester Grammar School.

Both defendants had their bail extended until the trial begins on Tuesday next week.