Three teenage boys have been sentenced for their roles in the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Mikey Roynon at a birthday party in Bath, Somerset. The incident occurred last year when Mikey was attacked with a large “zombie knife” at the celebration.

Shane Cunningham, who was found guilty of murder, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years before eligibility for parole. His accomplices, Cartel Bushnell and Leo Knight, were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to nine and nine-and-a-half years in youth detention, respectively.

During the trial, it was disclosed that tensions escalated among a group of approximately 70 youths at the party, many armed with knives. According to reports, Mikey sustained a fatal neck wound from the stabbing and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The Honourable Mr Justice Saini, presiding over the case, lifted reporting restrictions to allow the identification of the teenagers involved, underscoring the severity of the crime. He also remarked on the pervasive issue of knife crime in Bristol and the surrounding areas, describing it as having a devastating impact on the community.

Mikey’s mother, Hayley Ryall, who has since founded a group called Mikey’s World to combat local knife crime, shared the emotional turmoil of losing her son. She described Mikey’s last moments before attending the party, including their final exchange of “I love you.”

Detective Inspector Mark Newbury highlighted the lasting consequences of the crime on Mikey’s family and the community, denouncing the senseless violence and calling for collective action to address the national problem of knife crime.

The case has drawn significant attention to the issue of youth violence and knife crime in the region, as legal authorities and the community reckon with the tragic loss of a young life.