Rhamero West Murder Case: Two Men Sentenced, Family Finds Some Peace

Two men have been jailed for the murder of 16-year-old Rhamero West in September 2021. Shikeo Bell (10/09/2003), of Moss Side, and Giovanni Lawrence (07/02/2002), of no fixed abode, were both found guilty of murder at Manchester Crown Court on 30 June.

Lawrence was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and 195 days, while Bell received the youth equivalent of a life sentence, meaning he will be detained at His Majesty's Pleasure for a minimum of 18 years. Lawrence had previously been convicted in May 2022 but his conviction was overturned on appeal.

The incident occurred on 9 September 2021 when Rhamero and his friends were driving to Millennium Park in Moss Side. Two males, identified as Lawrence and Bell, were in a BMW 1 Series that drove past them at speed. After a brief pursuit, Rhamero was stabbed multiple times by Ryan Cashin, who had chased him down. Bell and Marquis Richards also participated in the attack.

Local residents attempted to provide first aid, but Rhamero died due to his injuries. The investigation involved extensive forensic, CCTV, phone-work, and witness enquiries, leading to today's convictions.

Rhamero's mother, Kelly Brown, expressed her happiness with the outcome: "I am really happy with the outcome - justice has been served. Thank you to the amazing team behind me for all their hard work and for all their continued support through both trials. Now my baby boy can rest in eternal peace and we as a family can begin the healing process."

Detective Inspector Paul Davies, from Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, praised the work of his team and thanked Rhamero's family for their patience. "Today’s result means four people have now been convicted of Rhamero’s murder, and I am glad that we have managed to secure justice for him and his family."

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the complexity of the case, stating: "Despite Rhamero being killed in 2021, police continued to investigate his murder, resulting in further charges being brought by the CPS. This was a complex case to prosecute, while both men claimed they were not in the cars used to pursue Rhamero. We used phone location data, CCTV footage, and forensic evidence to prove that Lawrence and Bell were in the cars, with others, chasing Rhamero and were actively involved in his murder."

The case demonstrates the robust response of law enforcement to such incidents, aiming to secure prison sentences for those responsible.