A teenager who stabbed another teenager to death with a large hunting-style knife at a 16th birthday party has been detained for life.
The 16-year-old was convicted of murder while his two friends were convicted of manslaughter after being acquitted of the more serious charge.
Cartel Bushnell and Leo Knight, both 16, received sentences of nine years and nine-and-a-half years’ youth detention for killing Mikey.
Mr Justice Saini imposed a life sentence at Bristol Crown Court on Friday and ordered that Cunningham should serve a minimum term of 16 years in custody before he can be considered for parole.
Passing sentence, the judge praised the family of Mikey for their dignity during the trial.
“I have this morning heard the moving victim personal statements from Mikey’s mother, father and grandmother,” he said.
“On the day Mikey was killed he was only 16 and still a child. His family have suffered a loss that is unimaginable.
“Mikey had a big musical career ahead of him and although he faced a number of challenges in his life, his future was promising.”
The judge went on: “Bristol and its surrounding areas are in the middle of a plague of knife crime. That plague has continued since this trial concluded.
“The lives of boys who carry knives continue to be taken by those who also carry knives.”
The judge ruled that all three could be identified despite their age after an application by the PA news agency.
During the trial Cunningham claimed he was acting in self-defence when he stabbed Mikey after claiming Mikey had swung a knife towards his friends in the garden of the property.
The teenager was left bleeding heavily from a wound to his neck and collapsed on the driveway of the party venue in Eastfield Avenue, Weston.
Police, paramedics and doctors were quickly at the scene of the incident but could not save Mikey’s life.
The defendants left the scene and later disposed of their weapons, and two were recovered by the police.
