A 15-year-old boy who murdered teenager Harvey Willgoose at their Sheffield school has been named as Mohammed Umar Khan after a judge lifted the anonymity order protecting his identity.
Khan, who turns 16 next month, stabbed Harvey twice with a hunting knife he had brought to All Saints Catholic High School on 3 February, with one blow cutting through a rib and piercing his heart in front of horrified pupils and teachers.
He was found guilty of murder in August and is due to be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court today, with Justice Ellenbogen ruling that the public interest in knowing who committed such a serious crime outweighed Khan’s right to anonymity as a juvenile.
Judge: “Public Will Wish to Know Identity”
Trial judge Justice Ellenbogen explained her decision to lift the ban on identifying Khan, balancing the seriousness of the crime against his welfare as a minor.
This was a serious crime carried out by one pupil on another on school property with a knife he brought into school,” she stated.
“It was witnessed to varying degrees by other pupils and teachers.”
“The public will wish to know the identity of those who commit such offences in seeking to understand how it is a child of that age can do so,” the judge added.
The ruling acknowledges that whilst Khan deserves some protections as a juvenile, the gravity of committing murder at school tips the balance toward transparency.
Pupils Fled “In Fear and Panic”
Sheffield Crown Court heard how other students fled “in fear and panic” when Khan pulled out the hunting knife and attacked Harvey during the lunch break.
Some pupils locked themselves in a cupboard to escape the violence unfolding in their school corridor.
The terrifying scenes left an entire school community traumatised, with children forced to witness a fatal stabbing during what should have been an ordinary school day.
CCTV Showed Two Stab Wounds
The jury was shown CCTV footage capturing the attack, which revealed Khan stabbed Harvey twice.
One of these blows proved fatal, cutting through one of Harvey’s ribs and piercing his heart.
The video evidence demonstrated the deliberate nature of the attack, with Khan having brought the hunting knife to school specifically to confront his victim.
“I’m Not Right in the Head”
Immediately after the stabbing, Khan told All Saints’ headteacher: “I’m not right in the head. My mum doesn’t look after me right.”
The school’s assistant head took the knife from Khan and heard him say “you know I can’t control it,” which the teacher interpreted as referencing his anger issues given previous incidents of violent behaviour at school.
These statements suggest Khan recognised he had psychological problems but hadn’t received adequate support to address them.
Fell Out After Lockdown Incident
The jury heard how Harvey and Khan’s relationship deteriorated following an incident on 29 January – five days before the fatal stabbing.
On that date, Khan tried to intervene in an altercation involving two other boys and had to be restrained by a teacher.
When Khan claimed one of these boys had a knife, the school declared a lockdown and called police, though no weapon was found.
Harvey Stayed Home: “People Have Knives”
Harvey wasn’t at school on 29 January and stayed off for the rest of the week, texting his father: “Am not going in that school while people have knives.”
The tragic irony is that Harvey’s fear of knife-carrying students and his decision to stay home proved insufficient to protect him once he returned to school.
His prescient concern about weapons at All Saints would ultimately be vindicated in the most devastating way possible.
Social Media Argument Over Weekend
Over the weekend before the stabbing, Harvey and Khan fell out on social media, with each siding with a different boy involved in the lockdown incident.
The online argument escalated tensions that would explode into fatal violence when both returned to school on Monday.
The dispute demonstrates how social media conflicts amongst teenagers can translate into real-world violence, particularly when weapons are introduced.
Lied to Staff About Having Knife
When Khan returned to school on 3 February, a staff member asked whether he had anything he shouldn’t have.
Khan said he did not – a lie that would have fatal consequences within hours.
The false assurance to staff highlights both the premeditation involved in bringing the weapon and the ease with which students can deceive teachers about what they’re carrying.
Series of Encounters Before Attack
The jury heard about multiple encounters between Harvey and Khan throughout the morning of 3 February before the defendant pulled out the knife just after the lunch break began at 12.10pm.
These interactions suggest Khan was building up to the attack throughout the morning rather than acting on sudden impulse.
Phone Contained Images With Weapons
Images and videos found on Khan’s phone showed him posing with knives and other weapons.
His internet search history included terms relating to weapons, demonstrating a concerning preoccupation with knives and violence.
The digital evidence painted a picture of a teenager fascinated by weapons who ultimately brought that fascination into lethal reality.
Defence: Carried Knife for “Protection”
Khan told the court he decided to carry a knife for protection, claiming he feared other teenagers who he believed were carrying weapons.
His barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC argued that Khan “snapped” after years of bullying and “an intense period of fear at school.”
The defence attempted to present Khan as a victim of circumstances who felt he needed a weapon for self-defence, though the jury rejected this narrative by returning a murder verdict.
Family Campaign Against Knife Crime
Since Harvey’s death, his family has campaigned vigorously against knife crime with particular focus on getting knife detection arches installed in schools.
The family’s advocacy aims to prevent other children suffering Harvey’s fate by making it harder for students to bring weapons onto school premises.
Sister’s Tribute
After Khan’s conviction, Harvey’s sister Sophie Willgoose paid tribute outside court.
“Harvey was full of life, warm, funny and caring with a unique ability to bring people together,” she said.
“He was deeply loved by his family, cherished by his friends, and respected by all who knew him.”
“This tragedy has not only devastated our family, but has rippled across the country,” she added. “People everywhere continue to grieve the loss of our beautiful boy.”
Sentencing Today
Khan faces sentencing today at Sheffield Crown Court, where Justice Ellenbogen will determine the minimum term he must serve before becoming eligible for parole.
As a juvenile convicted of murder, Khan will receive a mandatory life sentence, but the judge has discretion over the minimum tariff.
The sentencing will consider Khan’s age, his claims of bullying and fear, his psychological state, and the premeditated nature of bringing a hunting knife to school.
Questions About School Safety
The case raises profound questions about school safety and how All Saints Catholic High School allowed a student to bring a hunting knife onto premises.
Harvey’s prescient text about not wanting to attend whilst “people have knives” demonstrates students were aware of weapon-carrying at the school.
The fact that Khan successfully smuggled in a hunting knife despite being asked by staff whether he had anything inappropriate highlights gaps in security measures.
Knife Crime in Schools Crisis
Harvey’s murder represents part of a broader crisis of knife crime affecting British schools, with weapons increasingly present in educational settings.
The Willgoose family’s campaign for knife detection arches acknowledges that current security measures prove inadequate to keep weapons out.
As Khan awaits sentencing for robbing Harvey Willgoose of his future, the tragedy serves as a devastating reminder of how knife violence can shatter school communities and destroy young lives in an instant.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
