Reece Tansey was a teenager who attacked and killed him. He received a sentence of 15 years.
After being found guilty for manslaughter in connection to the stabbing death of the 15 year-old boy in Bolton (Greater Manchester), another boy was sentenced to six years in prison.
Reece was attacked and used his final breaths to reveal the identities of his attackers to two men who had found him.
Reece Tansey’s schoolboy murder victim, a teenager, was sentenced to a 15 year term
The assailants, named Boy A and Boy B for legal reasons, decided to meet up in the early hours of May 4 because of an escalating dispute between Boy B and a friend of the victim.
Reece was then stabbed six more times by Boy A when he arrived at Walker Avenue.
Reece knocked on the door of a nearby home as he tried desperately to get help before finally falling to his death.
Walker Avenue was evacuated by officers at 4.45am in response to a reported knife attack.
Police arrived at the scene minutes after Reece was found, and the young boy was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 5.45am.
The teen’s death was caused by ‘multiple stab wounds’, which ‘were likely to have been inflicted by a knife with a 10-12cm blade’, a pathologist concluded.
After fleeing, Boy A uploaded a Snapchat clip in which he was seen carrying a knife that had been covered in blood. The caption he added was “muppet”.
On Tuesday, officers were summoned to Walker Avenue in Bolton to investigate reports of a knife-attack.
The attacker later messaged Boy B, saying: ‘I thought it only went through his coat so I kept doing it. He’s dead now.’
Boy B answered with a laughter emoji
The sentencing hearing took place at Manchester Crown Court today. Justice Farbey heard that Boy B and Reece had a long-standing hatred, while Boy A was brought in to support the case.
Three-weeks later, jurors learned that Reece had been coerced by his friends to see them. Reece was reluctant at first.
The court heard he had sent a message to his friend, which read: ‘Getting brought into your s*** again. Ain’t in no f****** mood’.
Reece and the other boys agreed to meet up that evening and they headed for Great Lever Park.
Reece, on the other hand, was on his route and his friend told him that Reece wanted to stay in bed.
Reece’s 15-year old attacker was honored by his friends who blew up balloons to honor him. Reece’s mother stated that Reece made them smile in a victim statement.
Reece was killed by Boy A before the trial, but he denied it. Boy B said he was there and denied that Boy A knew he had a knife.
Richard Wright, QC represented Boy A at the trial and said that the dispute was part a “petty subculture” created via social media.
Wright explained that they met because of their shared youth and that social media drove their culture.
He said, “It could be that all were especially vulnerable due to being drawn into this sub-culture social media interactions and bravado.
“They were all at risk and, unfortunately, one of them died.”
Reece’s mom stated in court that Reece was their 15-year-old boy. Reece brought joy to our lives by making us smile, laugh and sometimes tearing our hair out.
“Reece” was fiercely protective over his mother and brother and considered himself the man in the home. He was his father’s best friend.
“Reece was just our world. His death has devastated us beyond comprehension.”
Shortly after the attack, his family paid tribute to him by saying: “Reece was 15 years old – cheeky and funny. His eyes were always twinkling and his smile was ready to go.
“Reece” loved spending time with family and friends. A contagious sense of humor, Reece often played jokes on his dad and mom, which caused his little brother to have a few laughs.
Reece could often make you smile, and it was difficult to be serious when you were with him.
“He was in a stage of life where he could find his path and be his own person. But he loved his mom and cared deeply for her.
“His death was tragically curtailed, and we won’t be able to understand it.
Boy A was sentenced to a 15 year term, and Boy B was given a six-year sentence.