Man jailed for 15 years over teenager killing

A man has been jailed for 15 years for his part in the killing of a teenager in Leeds.

Jamie Meah, 18, was stabbed to death and a 16-year-old boy was seriously injured when they were dragged out of a taxi by a gang of men in Armley in March 2023.

At Leeds Crown Court, Ranei Wilks, 23, was cleared of Mr Meah's murder but convicted of manslaughter and wounding another teenager with intent to cause GBH.

His trial heard that four suspects left the UK after the killing, but Wilks was arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport after flying back from Turkey in April 2024.

West Yorkshire Police said three other men wanted in connection with Mr Meah's death – Caleb Awe, Aquade Jeffers and Enham Nishat - remained at large.

In his evidence, Wilks told the trial he had been in a car with three other men but never left the vehicle during the attack on Mr Meah and another boy.

Wilks is the brother of Rotherham United footballer Mallik Wilks and of Raheem Wilks, who was killed in a shooting in Harehills in Leeds in 2017.

The judge, the Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl KC, told Wilks: "That ought to have led you away from violence and violent people.

"You, more than anyone, understand what it is like to lose a family member to a violent, criminal act."

Mr Meah's girlfriend said the couple had discovered she was pregnant two weeks before he was killed.

She said she later gave birth to "the little boy Jamie had always wanted".

Evie Linstrum told the sentencing hearing: "Jamie has been robbed of his future, I'm so angry with the people who took Jamie's life."

In a victim impact statement, Mr Meah's mother Nichola Goodbody said: "I am devastated at the thought of Jamie losing his life to knife crime and I just wish people would put the knives down."

A statement from his family said losing Mr Meah was the "worst day of our lives".

"Anyone who is prepared to carry a weapon should understand the devastation it causes when it is used," they said.

"Too many young lives are being taken in violent circumstances, leaving heartbroken families to pick up the pieces."

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