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Regional daily overturns court ban to name teen killer

HAris MohammedA teenage murderer who stabbed a man to death in a city centre street has been named after a regional daily’s successful court challenge.

Judge Mary Cox lifted an order which had prevented the Derby Telegraph naming Haris Mohammed, pictured left, after the 16-year-old was found guilty of the murder of Tom Webb.

The Telegraph challenged a Section 39 ruling made by Mrs Justice Cox on the opening day of Mohammed’s trial at Nottingham Crown Court last Monday.

Despite a three page letter being emailed to the court before the 10am deadline on the trial’s opening day on Monday, and the Telegraph’s crime reporter Martin Naylor handing our physical copies in the courtroom, both the prosecution and defence counsels agreed the order should remain in place during the trial.

However, they suggested to Mrs Justice Cox that it was her decision whether or not to lift the restrictions on conviction.

After the guilty verdict was delivered at 12.15pm on Friday, the prosecution made clear it was now happy for the restriction to be lifted.

Michael Auty, QC, told the court: “There is one matter outstanding and that is the question of publicity. The Derby Telegraph made legal representation that the defendant should be identified on conviction in the interests of the public.

“We submit that the public interest does outweigh that of the defendant’s.”  Mrs Justice Cox agreed.

Mr Webb died of a single stab wound to the heart on 19 January this year after a fight broke out at the junction of East Street and St Peter’s Street, in Derby city centre.

Mohammed had denied murder, claiming he was acting in self-defence when he delivered the fatal blow.

Martin told HTFP: “We are all very pleased that Mrs Justice Cox decided to make this ruling on conviction. The very fact that Mohammed is aged only 16 does not mean he did not know what he was doing when he decided to, for whatever reason, stab a man to death in Derby city centre on 19 January.

“Derbyshire Police has an ongoing operation, called Project Zao, which is aimed at reducing knife crime in the county. We have given a large amount of publicity since it was launched earlier this year and was backed by Rachel Webb, Tom’s mum.

“We hope that any young person who reads our coverage will think twice before taking a knife out on the streets of Derby and Derbyshire.

“I would like to extend my sympathies and all of ours at the Derby Telegraph to Rachel for the devastating loss of her only child and we hope she is able to rebuild her life and move on in the future.”