Pharrell Garcia was stabbed in the heart with his own pocket knife after both boys messaged same girl on social media
A KNIFE-OBSESSED schoolboy who stabbed his 15-year-old love rival in the heart and left him to die on the pavement has been jailed for seven years.
Pharrell Garcia was attacked with his own pocket knife in a park near Stellman Close in Stoke Newington, north London, at around 4pm on July 23 last year.
The 16-year-old killer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed Pharrell was armed with the ‘multi-tool’ knife and he acted in self-defence, telling the court: “I had no intention to kill him or do serious harm – only to save my own life.”
But a jury at the Old Bailey rejected his claims and convicted him of manslaughter after clearing him of murder.
PREVIOUS CONVICTION FOR MACHETE
In a chilling detail that emerged during the trial, the court heard the boy from east London had a previous conviction for possession of a machete.
The two teenagers had known each other since they were very young but fell out – with the attack believed to have been motivated by jealousy as they were both messaging the same girl.
Neither boy had met the girl in person but had exchanged thousands of messages with her. On the day of the stabbing, they had told her they planned to fight.
‘GOING TO SMOKE HIM’
Pharrell had boasted in messages that he was going to “smoke” the 16-year-old, dismissing him as “just a nerd,” the court heard.
The defendant told a mutual friend before the attack that he was going to fight Pharrell in the park.
When they met in Stellman Close, the younger boy stabbed Pharrell once in the heart before chasing him as he tried to flee.
Pharrell managed to run a short distance before collapsing and dying on the pavement in the residential area of Hackney.
43 VIDEOS OF KNIFE PLAY
Following Pharrell’s death, police tracked the killer to a family friend’s house where he had been hiding. He was arrested at 5:07am on July 24.
A shocking search of his mobile phone revealed:
- Snapchat communications between the pair in the days before the killing
- 43 videos and photos of the defendant playing with knives just a week before the murder
- Messages were dated July 16 and 17 – less than a week before the fatal attack
After the stabbing, he messaged his mother saying he could not come home and asked her to remove certain items from their house. He also asked about going to Portugal.
DANGEROUS OFFENDER
Judge Philip Katz KC sentenced the teenager to seven years in custody with an extended five-year licence period after finding him to be dangerous.
The judge said: “Pharrell Garcia was a child of 15 when he was stabbed to the heart in broad daylight in a residential area in Hackney.
“He managed to run a short distance before collapsing and dying on the pavement.”
FAMILY’S HEARTBREAK
Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen said: “Our thoughts very much remain with Pharrell’s family and friends, who had to re-live the last traumatic moments of his young life during the trial after the defendant failed to take responsibility for his actions.
Somehow the defendant came to be in possession of a multi-tool, which he claimed in court was carried to the scene by the victim. The evidence we gathered disputed the defendant’s account that he grabbed the multi-tool and delivered a fatal blow to save his life.
CAUGHT ON CCTV
The killer’s movements were captured on CCTV showing him:
- Entering the park before putting his hood up
- Walking to the area where the attack happened with Pharrell
- Chasing Pharrell out of the park while still holding the knife
- Disposing of the weapon
The multi-tool knife was recovered close to where the defendant was seen discarding it on CCTV and was forensically linked to both boys.
COMMUNITY IN SHOCK
The stabbing took place close to Benthal Primary School, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney, said at the time: “I know the community will be searching for answers and will be shocked and angry at this tragic loss of life.
“I want them to know that we will do everything in our power to provide those answers and bring those responsible to justice.”
ANOTHER YOUNG LIFE LOST
The case represents yet another tragic loss of a young life to knife crime in the capital.
Pharrell’s death came just days before another fatal stabbing in the same area – bus driver Derick Thomas was killed on Northwold Road, though police said there was no link between the two murders.
The killer will serve at least seven years behind bars before being considered for release, but will remain on licence for a further five years as a dangerous offender.
For Pharrell’s heartbroken family, no sentence will bring back their 15-year-old son who died over a girl neither boy had ever met in person.
