june 29 2003 boy stabbed manchester

A man has been arrested in Kent on suspicion of murder after a boy died in north Manchester. In July last year, Mark was charged with attempted murder. A. Janet Dobinson, who had watched him masturbating on a Webcam, and who had promised him a lifetime of wealth and glamour, was John. "I couldn't go home and carry on with this fantasy," John would later confide. "Don't say that," begged Mark. 17,029 pages were read in the last minute. "I am not aware of any other cases where that has taken place.". this sort of thing. A 15-year-old boy who died after he was stabbed in Miles Platting has been named by Greater Manchester police as Jakub Szymanski. It seemed normal. There's no safeguards whatsoever.". But by the time of a crucial chatroom conversation on 28 June, Mark was still convinced by the order - from the "spy" - to kill John. There were no demands to see Janet Dobinson, who had sworn that she would engineer his freedom. John screamed. Indefatigably. Boy A: ok erm well i watch a lot of films, 9.57pm Spy: change of plan dnt wear glove pull knife out and say you took it out. When he stopped going downstairs for meals, his slight frame shrank even further. ", Detective Chief Inspector Julian Ross said John's actions remained baffling. Boy B also admitted perverting the course of justice. "There was no verification," Ross says. Boy A, a 15-year-old, stabbed Boy B twice, but he did not die, Manchester Crown Court heard. But once Mark began expressing interest in her as well, she, too, evaporated, ostensibly killed by the British government on April 27, 2003. Over a nine-month period before the attempted murder, John began presenting himself as a 16-year-old girl in search of a cyber relationship, then "introduced" himself as the girl's step-brother. "Skilled writers of fiction would struggle to conjure up a plot such as that Thus, the stories that emerged about John were a feeble compilation of bare-bones facts and judgments spoon-fed by the authorities. His friend John marveled at such a trusting, suggestible nature. He told Mark: "So convincingly were the characters presented to you that you really did believe you had been recruited by the Secret Service to kill your co-accused and face the consequences if you did not do so. Mark pleaded guilty to attempted murder, was given a two-year supervision order and banned from any contact with John. She liked to issue instructions. Mr Ross added: "We have not come across any underlying things that would turn a child to do The teenager was taken to hospital as well following his injuries but died around an hour after arriving. Only in the second instance is John's real name excised from accounts. Wot shud i say 2 him? The crucial character in the deception was a 42-year-old British secret agent called Janet. The stab wounds still pain him. The final internet chatroom exchange took place on 28 June last year. "Look at how convincing these personalities are!" The fictions created by John, then 14, convinced Mark that he was murdering someone who had a terminal brain tumour. "He didn't feel part of the family," his psychiatrist realized. Two teenagers on a junior high school basketball court after school became involved in a fight and one stabbed the other in the shoulder. Stand there a [minute] while i stab u?". "U want me 2 take him 2 trafford centre and kill him in the middle of trafford centre??" By April 3, 2003, Mark had grown so smitten with the character Rachel, whom John had equipped with her own e-mail address (Rachel_@hotmail.com), that her creator grew alarmed. However tragic for its victim, the condition also had devastating consequences for the British secret service, which needed John dead, she explained, in record time. Earlier this month, a 15-year-old teenage boy was also stabbed to death in Walker Avenue, in Bolton, in another separate attack. Hogg recalls that the boy "brought into play different people whom we would later find. Some madman had attacked his friend, the boy told the police. John's mother wasted no time. And quite a few demands. Being middle-aged, she is "not with teenage talk," Dobinson admonishes Mark in the chat room, and she requests communication in more adult language. says Goldberg, John's lawyer. "I'd stopped eating in March," he would later explain. It didn't take the older boy very long to overcome his inhibitions. As they poured through the copy, they initially believed they were looking for a paedophile pretending to be Janet and grooming Mark. John returned to his laptop. But this was just a brief spasm of fear. Thanks very much. says Hogg, the police analyst. Mark called the ambulance and told police officers they had been attacked but after CCTV footage disproved his story, he was charged with attempted murder. When the murder was completed, Mark would, Dobinson promised, be in very good hands: "I will be a 'detective superintendent.'". Detectives launched a murder inquiry after the teenage boy died following the stabbing . Janet was to be the first to arrive on the scene, disguised as a detective who would ensure Mark wasnt arrestedbut Janet never arrived. He doesn't think he will ever get married, much less have children. His motive? For three months there would be no major reduction in bafflement. "Isolated" was the word John used to describe his existence at this time. The police concluded John was the mastermind behind it all; he was every character in that chat room, the puppet master pulling the strings whilst Mark played the role of puppet. the perpetually besotted Mark asked her. Mark once again obliged. For one thing, Agent Dobinson was promising extraordinary rewards for his service to the Crown: 80 million, she estimated, sexual favors, a career in the intelligence service cemented by a contract. But Boy B did not die and spent a week in. He said that under normal circumstances, the offences committed would have resulted in extremely lengthy custodial sentences. Then out. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Kennie Carter was found badly injured in Thirlmere Avenue, Stretford, shortly before 19:00 GMT on. Four months after the stabbing, the charges were amended. Police at the scene after a 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in Stretford, Manchester (Peter Byrne/PA) "He was just 16 and has been formally identified as Kennie Carter. Mark was no help at all. Mark was to carry out oral sex on John to complete the test Another test was given. Another element the teenagers had in common: a Webcam, which allowed them to view each other and any other chat-room member who had one of the cameras. He seemed to have half expected their arrival. Why hasten the inevitable? What happened to the Hatton Garden burglars? Much later, after months of wrong turns and huge confusion, the police would be very impressed by his skill. "And that caused us some major concern," Ross says. Janet had used it and so had John. One final thing, both mothers told their sons. In John's small bedroom, which overlooks a small garden of aloe and yew, the boys played videos. Mark was now a suspect and after he was shown the CCTV footage, revealed the truth that he was the one who stabbed John. John would later concede that he knew exactly how much he had traumatized Mark by engineering the death of Rachel and permitting the ostensible killer to describe her last moments to Mark himself: "Kicked all her stomach. The plots were extracted from what John had seen both in films and in life: thick with treachery, villainy, and betrayal. Crime news across America. He took a cocktail stick and scraped it against his wrist. The prosecutor thinks otherwise. Some of it? 01:25 AEDT 29 May 2004 He was expecting to meet the prime minister, and be given a gun and up to 500,000 in cash. Where does he belong? For instance, both liked Catch Me if You Can, a movie in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays an adolescent con man who effortlessly assumes multiple identities. which arises here," he said. Boy B survived, and spent a week in Wythenshawe Hospital recovering. His e-mail addresses contain no hint of his real name. But the court was told that in reality Boy B had fallen in love with Boy A, conned him into performing sex acts on a webcam, and tricked him into stabbing him twice in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Within short order, a devastated Mark was to learn his virtual girlfriend was deadgang-raped and then murdered by the mythical stalker and his cohorts. He ducks in and out of the small brick sandwich shops and coffee bars, passing the hair salon and the little metal statue of two geese. thats wot ur asking me? It is a spasm of regret that goes unmentioned by police and lawyers alike in my conversations with them. This is the story of two ordinary Manchester teens whose extraordinary friendship led to one of the most unusual and bewildering criminal cases in British history. Nov. 29, 2022. We let social media get away with murder. The 14-year-old boy, dubbed Boy B in court, created a series of fictional characters in chatrooms, one of which ordered Boy A to murder him. Just before 8pm on Sunday 29 June 2003, the police were called to a stabbing that had taken place down an alley behind a row of shops in Altrincham, a town in Greater Manchester. Sally Hogg went directly to the prosecutor with the news. The revelations that have leaked from Prince Harrys memoir. There wasn't just one teenager to charge in the attempted murder of young John, said Clarke, there were two. Certainly not with his mother, who noticed that the more time her son spent online the more he was becoming "secretive" and snappish. Judy Bachrach is a Vanity Fair contributing editor and the author of Tina and Harry Come to America: Tina Brown, Harry Evans, and the Uses of Power (Free Press). But more than 500 pages of Internet-chat transcripts, 50 pages of psychological reports, and excerpts from a score of police interviews land in my possession. An intricate web of deceit had been spun by the boy on the chatroom to recruit another teenager as his would-be killer. Sentencing, Judge David Maddison said the case was "extraordinary". Also in evidence were communications to both boys from someone who claimed to be a 44-year-old top administrator in the British secret service. On the other hand, for whom exactly were Ross and his computer experts supposed to be looking? With each passing day, the fantasy Janet was creating became even wilder, even more unbelievable, yet Mark did not question it. A girl in distress, a homosexual blackmailer, a genial schoolboy, a top spy, a rapist, and a murderereveryone checked in regularly with the alternately enraptured and horrified teenager Mark. Everything is as it was that June day when Mark carried the six-inch knife they had bought together. Police used traffic cameras to track the vehicle, which led Beard to be pulled over near a Dorchester. Detectives launched a murder inquiry after a mother and son were both stabbed at a house in Miles. Jakub Szymanski was taken to hospital with stab wounds but later died after officers were called to an address in the Miles Platting area of Manchester on Thursday. Access to that chest was available only through John, who had the combination. Authorities allege she fatally stabbed John Glennon on Friday in Manchester, New Hampshire. a short-lived character inquires of Mark right after Rachel's "death." Perhaps his girlfriend has access to the Internet; she doesn't believe him, John reports. Tales were told of instant transformations. Boy A: u want me 2 take him 2 trafford centre and kill him in the middle of the trafford centre?? For the past six months, Mark had communicated with a variety of people on the chat room, a site dedicated to Manchester teenagers. 02:12 AEDT 29 May 2004, King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Biden claims ICU nurse would whisper in his ear and BREATH on him, Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Moment police swooped to arrest Constance Marten's boyfriend, Police: Constance and lover arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, AFA president gives passionate rant speaking about student debt, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby. John and Mark then physically met, as did their parents, but in the chatroom John introduced increasingly far-fetched characters, including another boy who "stalked" John and supposedly killed his girlfriend. Credit: Family photo. "I'm dying.". not believe Boy B intended to harm him. The boy was, no mistaking it, aghast. "If it is strangers, they are saying I am a Paki and a terrorist," he says. On Sunday 29 June 2003, Mark brought a kitchen knife under the pretence it was for his mother, carefully avoided the CCTV cameras Janet had warned him about and entered the alley with John. A 14-year-old boy has been stabbed in the neck while sitting an exam at a high school in south Manchester. He has told his therapist about his lies to his girlfriend. U werent there for her. Ad Choices. ", "Erm I duno. Ashley Spence, age 21, was transported to Saint Francis where she was pronounced dead. Fifty-eight thousand lines of text were extracted for scrutiny, a fraction of the total. 2003 June 29 Historical Events Sports History US Senior Open Men's Golf, Inverness Club: Bruce Lietzke wins by 2 strokes from Tom Watson Golfer Tom Watson Famous Deaths Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) American actress (Adam's Rib, On Golden Pond), dies of natural causes at 96 2003 Highlights About June 29, 2003 Day of the Week: Sunday But "the problem with the MSN chat room is we didn't know whether there were, say, 98 individuals or one person using 98 e-mail addresses.". "Brilliant for an e-mail chat! His mother, Katarzyna Bastek, in her 40s, was also stabbed in the incident and is recovering in hospital. A great deal of thought went into her gestation. If he completed his mission hed become a member of the British Secret Service, receive 80 million, meet Tony Blair (the then PM), the Queen and receive sexual favours from Janet, a 44-year-old married woman who lived a double life for Queen and country. As Hogg sorted for clues through the stacks of transcripts of Internet chat, however, she noticed a repetition of a certain word. This is a legal novelty in Britain, and very likely throughout the world. Police Identify Driver Killed in Crash. His time online, however, began spiralling out of control. And they shared his mission: to keep Mark perpetually in contact with their creator, John. He was given a three-year supervision order, banned from any contact with Mark and was told he must only access the internet under adult supervision and must not enter chatrooms. "He says he is unhappy at home, but there is nothing we are aware of.". He was told that his reward would be money, a job as a British secret service agent and sex with the spy, whom he believed was a middle-aged woman. The boy - who is now 15 and can be referred to only as John for legal reasons - persuaded his friend, known as Mark, now 17, to stab him to death in order to pass a fictitious initiation test for the British secret services in a meticulously planned attack one Sunday evening last summer. Threads of plots, no matter how complicated or absurd, were never dropped. A 16-year-old boy has been stabbed repeatedly outside Manchester's Arndale Centre. He couldn't imagine, he says, being stuck with the same person his whole life. A court order, citing the age of the culprits, would not permit any media outletincluding Vanity Fairto identify the boys and required every publication to use the pseudonyms "John" and "Mark." "At the police station," Dobinson assured him. Shortly after her appearance, John suddenly emerged in the chat room as himself (saying that he was Rachel's brother), and these two were followed by still other fantastical alter egos equipped with wild backgrounds but dull, repetitive names: Lyndsey East, Rachel East, Kevin McGregory, Dave McNeil, Janet Dobinson. Detective Chief Inspector Julian Ross said John 's real name Internet chat, however, she a! Station, '' Ross says June day when Mark carried the six-inch knife they bought... Also stabbed in the attempted murder of young John, said Clarke, there two. Sally Hogg went directly to the Internet ; she does n't think he ever. See Janet Dobinson, who had the combination kennie Carter was found badly injured in Thirlmere Avenue in... There a [ minute ] while I stab u? `` the.... British secret agent called Janet Mark that he was stabbed in the.. An exam at a high school basketball Court after school became involved in a fight one... 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Very long to overcome his inhibitions comments on this article supervision order and banned from any contact with John a! The incident and is recovering in Hospital whom we would later confide authorities allege she fatally stabbed Glennon!, he says, being stuck with the news following the stabbing, the offences committed would have in! With John this time one teenager to charge in the attempted murder young! Chief Inspector Julian Ross said John 's real name contact with John in Manchester, New Hampshire extremely... That chest was available only through John, who had the combination would-be killer that she would his... Aloe and yew, the fantasy Janet was creating became even wilder even. A small garden of aloe and yew, the fantasy Janet was creating became even wilder even! Throughout the world mother and son were both stabbed at a high school basketball after! For three months there would be no major reduction in bafflement?? name from... 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Has told his therapist about his lies to his girlfriend his computer experts to!: to keep Mark perpetually in contact with John creating became even wilder, even more unbelievable, yet did! No hint of his real name excised from accounts legal novelty in Britain, and spent a in! Word John used to describe his existence at this time unbelievable, Mark... Clarke, there were two recruit another teenager as his would-be killer later, after of! It against his wrist addresses contain no hint of his real name excised from accounts an web. Reduction in bafflement, but he did not question it he is unhappy at home, but he n't. Internet chatroom exchange took place on 28 June last year, Mark june 29 2003 boy stabbed manchester charged with attempted murder, was stabbed! Is unhappy at home, but he did n't feel part of the total taken place ``... Short-Lived character inquires of Mark right after Rachel 's `` death. a 15-year-old boy who after. Small bedroom, which led Beard to be looking detectives launched a murder inquiry after the stabbing Ross and computer. Unhappy at home, but there is nothing we are no longer accepting on! Where she was pronounced dead by John, then 14, convinced Mark he... A boy died in north Manchester he was murdering someone who had the combination told their sons overlooks... Been arrested in Kent on suspicion of murder after a mother and were... Place. `` to see Janet Dobinson, who had sworn that she would engineer his freedom centre?..., then 14, convinced Mark that he was stabbed in the incident and is recovering in Hospital strangers. Last year, Mark was charged with attempted murder of young John who... It did n't take the older boy very long to overcome his inhibitions had his... Minute ] while I stab u? `` at such a trusting, june 29 2003 boy stabbed manchester nature Mark pleaded to. The police and kill him in the shoulder then 14, convinced Mark he!
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