Two teenagers have been sentenced to a total of 34 years in prison for the murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda.
Pradjeet Veadhasa and Sukhman Shergill – who can be named for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted – were convicted of murdering Ronan in May.
The youth was stabbed close to his family home in Wolverhampton in June last year, after being mistaken for his friend by Pradjeet Veadhasa, who brought a ninja sword set and a large machete online.
Ronan Kanda. Pic: West Midlands Police
Sukhman Shergill was found to have acted in joint enterprise for the murder and has also been sentenced.
Pradjeet Veadhasa was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 18 years, while Sukhman Shergill was sentenced to life for a minimum term of 16 years.
Ronan was on the short walk home from his friend’s house where he went to buy a PlayStation controller when he was chased and struck with the weapons twice.
The teenagers had intended to harm Ronan’s friend, who one of the 16-year-olds had owed money to, and fought with on a previous occasion.
Ronan died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Both teenagers, now aged 17, were found guilty of murder following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court. The jury’s deliberations took just over two hours.
Ronan’s family were left “totally destroyed” by his death.
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Kanda family speaks about son’s murder
His sister Nikita Kanda told Sky News: “We have all lost the happiness. We just feel like every day we are waking up and just existing.”
In a statement read aloud to the court, his father Chander Kanda described Ronan as his world, friend and soul of their family.
“He was the one that would make us laugh and realise that life is what you make it and enjoy our precious time on Earth as a family,” he said.