Meet Yussuf Mustapha, Britain’s Youngest Murderer

Yussuf Mustapha is a 14-year-old boy who is believed to be Britain’s youngest Murderer after shooting a 15-year-old schoolboy named Keon Lincoln in a gang attack in Birmingham.

Mustapha who is currently facing a mandatory life sentence alongside three other teenagers was convicted of murdering 15-year-old Keon near his home in Handsworth, Birmingham.

According to reports, Yussuf Mustapha and his gangmate while assaulting Keon shot and stabbed him in January 2021. He however died two hours later at Birmingham Children’s Hospital from a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Keon Lincoln

Sentencing, Lord Justice William Davis said the murder had been “carefully planned and executed” using a revolver and a car stolen for use in the killing.

He also noted that Mustapha, has no previous convictions and that the material before the court indicated he had lived “a decent life with his family” prior to the murder.

The judge said the only mitigating factor in Mustapha’s case was his age “given that, for someone of his age, many years in custody will appear, literally, to be a lifetime”.

Mustapha’s barrister, Adam Kane QC,  also told the judge his client was from a loving family and had been doing well at school, academically and in sport.

Yussuf Mustapha, Britain’s Youngest Murderer

Prior to the  Judge’s Sentence, Yussuf Mustapha had been convicted of murder by the jurors following a five-week trial. He told jurors he was not at the murder scene but later admitted he had lied to police.

Before Mustapha became Britain’s youngest murderer, he and Keon went to the same school and they had reportedly appeared to get on reasonably well together.

Yussuf Mustapha accomplices Michael Ugochukwu and Tahjgeem Breakenridge, both 18, were also convicted of murder and jailed for life.

An unidentified youth also convicted of Keon’s murder was ordered to be detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure and to serve at least 17 years. Kieron Donaldson, 18, was found guilty of unlawfully killing Keon after buying weapons used in the killing, and was sentenced to 12 years.