by Two 12-year-old boys used a machete to murder a “completely defenseless” man, cutting his legs and causing a wound that went through his back and ribs into his heart, a court has heard.
Jurors were told that Shawn Seesahai, 19, offered no violence and did nothing to offend either of the boys, but was hit so hard on the head that a piece of bone came off.
The two youths, who cannot be named because of their age, deny murdering Mr Seesahai, who was pronounced dead at the scene at Stowlawn playing fields in Wolverhampton on the night of November 13 last year.
Opening the Crown case at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, KC prosecutor Michelle Heeley said: “Shawn Seesahai was killed by machete blows to his back, legs and head.
“He was also beaten and kicked. The Crown says these two defendants were jointly responsible for that attack.”
Miss Heeley told the court that Mr Seesahai, who lived in Handsworth in Birmingham but was originally from Anguilla in the Caribbean, had traveled to the UK to receive treatment for cataracts.
On November 13, he traveled with his friends to Wolverhampton, and the two 12-year-old children were together from 4.10pm that evening, meeting two girls of the same age who are witnesses in the case.
The jury heard that one of the girls told the police that one of the defendants regularly carried a machete, that he had a machete that day, and that he and another boy were “crossing each other”.
Miss Heeley told the jury: “Those boys went out with a deadly weapon, we have it here in court so you can see the extent of it.”
Holding up the machete, which was contained in a visible case, Miss Heeley told the court: “It is understandable how a weapon of this type and size could cause fatal injuries in such a short space of time.
“While these two boys were roaming the streets with a deadly weapon, Mr. Seesahi was just with his friends.”
After spending a period of time sitting with a friend on a bench and walking by the basketball courts, the court heard Mr Seesahai and his friend “Get together” with the defendants as the boys passed the machete between them, and one person said “Keep a step” .
The weapon was removed from the trousers of one of the boys and made available for use “despite the fact that Shawn Seesahai and his friends did not offer any violence, nor did they do anything to harm (the youths)”.
Miss Heeley added: “CCTV captured the group but it is not detailed enough to see exactly what happened between them.
“Shawn Seesahai’s friend said (one of the boys) deliberately brushed the shoulder of Mr Seesahai, who replied ‘What the f***’.
“At this point, (the boy who allegedly brushed the victim’s shoulder) pulled a machete from his trousers. Mr. Seesahai told his friend to run and he ran.”
The court heard that the friend managed to escape and looked back to see Mr Seesahai on the floor, surrounded by the defendants.
Although the friend did not see the “vicious attack” take place, Miss Heeley said one of the girls who was with the 12-year-olds told police they were both in possession of the machete and often someone else carried it.
The witness described seeing one boy pick up the machete and hold it in the air, Mr Seesahai falling to the floor and then punching and kicking him.
Ms Heeley added: “She told the police she saw (defendant) using the machete on Mr Seesahai’s legs, and she saw (the other defendant) punching and stamping on his head.
“The prosecution says the two boys were in a joint attack on a man who had done nothing wrong, an unarmed man, who was completely defenseless on the ground.
“We say that these two boys were acting together and that they intended to kill Mr. Seesahai, at least that they intended to cause serious injury.
“As a result of their actions, Shawn Seesahai died at the scene. He was hit so hard to the skull with the machete that a piece of bone was actually gone.
“He had slash wounds on his leg, and in particular he had an injury from the machete that went through his body all the way from his back, through his ribs and into his heart.”
After the killing, the court heard, Mr Seesahai’s friend called the police, who attended and started CPR but the severity of his injuries made it clear he was already dead.
Jurors were told that one of the defendants admitted a count alleging unlawful possession of a machete, while the other boy denies the same charge.
The youths, who claim that the other person was responsible for the violence used, were allowed to sit with relatives in the back of the court, rather than in the glass-fronted dock, as the case against them was opened.
During the Crown’s opening speech, it was alleged that the boys met the two girls at around 4.15pm.
Mr Seesahai, the court heard, came to the area with two friends via Priestfield tram stop, where he was caught on CCTV at around 6.13pm.
Although CCTV cameras did not capture the fatal attack in the minutes after 8.15pm, evidence showed that Mr Seesahai had visited a petrol station earlier and was in the park waiting for one of his friends, while the second friend was at visiting his girlfriend.
The trial continues.
