Young offender jailed for stabbing teen to death during knife awareness course

A young offender who stabbed a teenager to death at a knife awareness course has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

Vladimir Nachev, 18, launched a “brutal” attack on Hakim Sillah at the Hillingdon civic centre in Uxbridge, west London, in November last year.

Mr Sillah, also 18, was taken hospital after being stabbed several times in the chest but died the same day.

Nachev fled the scene after the stabbing and hid the 25cm long Rambo style knife in woodland near his home address.

He claimed his actions were in self-defence, but he was found guilty of murder by a jury after a three-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court in August.

He was also found guilty of wounding another teenager with intent during the same incident.

The court previously heard how the training course was for those aged under 18 with a previous offence related to weapons and that risk assessments had been carried out on all those who attended.

Judge Pushpinder Saini QC said Mr Sillah’s death had followed an “unprovoked attack of exceptional violence”.

Sentencing Nachev on Monday, Judge Saini said Nachev had “an obsession with knives”.

He said: “Having been dropped off by car by his mother, Hakim was early for the session.

“You came to the course carrying a concealed Rambo knife.

“The cruel irony of the fact you took with you, and used, this weapon on a course which was intended to give you an awareness of weapons hardly needs stating.

“Hakim had done nothing and said nothing to cause you to attack him.

“Having murdered Hakim you calmly left the centre, concealing the weapon in your trousers… you were clearly distressed about what you had done.”

Nachev smirked as he received his sentence, which provoked emotional responses from Mr Sillah’s family and friends in the courtroom.

Mr Sillah’s mother, Saranbah Sillah, and his 14-year-old sister, Sally, both read out victim impact statements in person.

His mother said she “looked up to him” and “we talked about everything,” adding: “This is a heavy burden for me to carry, and one that I will carry for the rest of my life.”

His sister Sally described him as “my protector” and told the court: “The day I found out everything stopped. This was my biggest fear in my heart, losing a family member.

“It feels like there’s something missing.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Young offender jailed for stabbing teen to death during knife awareness course