A man who fatally stabbed a teenage Syrian refugee in a confrontation over bumping into his girlfriend has been handed a life sentence for murder. Alfie Franco, 20, used a flick knife to attack Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim, 16, in Huddersfield town center on April 3. The judge ordered Franco to serve a minimum of 23 years behind bars.
Ahmad, who had fled conflict in Syria and suffered injuries in a bombing, was attacked in broad daylight just before 3 pm. The incident occurred when Ahmad and a friend walked past Franco and his girlfriend, with whom Ahmad had no prior acquaintance. During the confrontation, Ahmad approached Franco following a verbal exchange between them, leading to Franco drawing a knife from his waistband and striking Ahmad with a single stab to the neck.
Franco argued that he acted in self-defense, fearing harm from Ahmad, and claimed his intent was only to cut the boy’s cheek and escape. However, the prosecution contended that plunging a knife into Ahmad’s neck under those circumstances was not justifiable self-defense.
Ahmad’s family revealed that he had sought refuge in the UK with his uncle in Huddersfield after fleeing war-torn Homs. They described Ahmad as a hopeful and compassionate individual with aspirations to become a doctor, who was still adapting to his new life in the UK.
The family expressed deep sorrow over Ahmad’s untimely death and emphasized his belief in human rights and safety. They shared their desire to lay him to rest in his homeland of Syria as a tribute to his memory.
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