Two of the youths involved in the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in Gloucester are publicly named for the first time.
Four teenagers have been sentenced for the manslaughter of Ramarni Crosby, who was fatally stabbed during a gang-related dispute in Gloucester. The incident, which took place in December 2021, involved a confrontation between two rival gangs, during which Crosby, 16, was attacked by youths armed with weapons including a machete and a meat cleaver.
Levi Cameron, aged 19, and Callum Charles-Quebella, 18, along with 16-year-olds Shai Howes and Oisin Barrett, were part of the gang responsible for the attack. However, they did not deliver the fatal stab wounds. CCTV footage from the scene showed Crosby and his friends fleeing, with Crosby later collapsing and dying on Stratton Road.
The group was found guilty of manslaughter after the jury at Bristol Crown Court acquitted them of murder. Charles-Quebella had previously admitted to his involvement in the killing. The court was shown footage capturing the build-up and aftermath of the attack, although the actual stabbing was not recorded. The youths, part of a gang known as GL1, wore purple bandanas to signify their membership and had an ongoing rivalry with Crosby’s group.
Ramarni Crosby, who was unarmed, had reportedly punched one of the gang members before being attacked. The youths later celebrated his death, with Cameron seen “jumping for joy” upon hearing of Crosby’s passing.
During sentencing, Mrs. Justice Cutts expressed her horror at the events, condemning the youths’ actions as “disgusting” and “horrifying.” She emphasised the immense impact of Crosby’s death on his family and community. “Ramarni was not a statistic; he was a loved young man whose life was taken senselessly,” she stated.
Cameron received a 15-and-a-half-year sentence, while Charles-Quebella was given 11-and-a-half years. Howes and Barrett were sentenced to eight years and nine months, and seven-and-a-half years, respectively. Mrs. Justice Cutts also condemned Barrett for writing drill lyrics that glorified Crosby’s death. All four will serve two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible for parole.
Crosby’s grandmother, Viv Clifford, delivered a moving victim impact statement, lamenting the loss of her grandson and expressing the pain of losing a promising young man. “Ramarni was not just a statistic; he was my grandson, and we will never be the same without him,” she said.
Other defendants, including Dean Smith and three 17-year-olds, were acquitted of both murder and manslaughter.
