A judge has allowed two teenage killers to be named following a legal challenge by a regional daily.

Alkhader Qasem, 17, and Ishaaq Mia, 16, were both convicted of murdering 17-year-old Prince Walker-Ayeni in Manchester’s Moss Side after stabbing him three times as he was chased through the streets.

The pair were anonymous throughout the trial due to reporting restrictions because of their age.

But the Manchester Evening News successfully argued that they should be named on public interest grounds owing to the threat that knife crime poses.

17-year-old knife crime victim Prince Walker-Ayeni

Mrs Justice Ellenbogen agreed with the MEN submission after handing the pair the equivalent of a life sentence for juvenile offenders.

Last month, Qasem, of Bilsborrow Road, Rusholme, was sentenced to serve at least 15 years, while Mia, of Brantingham Road, Whalley Range, must serve at least eight-and-a-half years.

The restrictions were formally lifted during a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday, after the pair’s lawyers were given a month to lodge an appeal.

However while a custody image or ‘mugshot’ of Qasem has been made available to journalists, no such image of Mia has been released.

MEN court reporter Andrew Bardsley, who made the application, said: “We argued that there was a strong public interest in the identities of the killers being revealed, because of the societal issue knife crime poses.

“We said that full reporting of the case would allow for more debate of the issue, and to examine how it is that children can end up in court for killing other children.

“I submitted a letter to the judge, who then allowed objections to be made by the defence barristers.

“On the day of the sentencing hearing, the subject was discussed by barristers and the judge, and I also stood up in court and made submissions.

“The judge agreed with our argument and allowed the reporting restrictions to be lifted. She granted a month for the defence to lodge an appeal, but they did not and restrictions were formally lifted yesterday.

“I believe that judgements such as this are a strong example of how open justice and court reporting remain a vital element of society.”