Two Men Jailed for Murder of 16-Year-Old Rhamero West

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 earlier this week (30 June).

Convictions and Sentences

They have now been sentenced to over 30 years - Lawrence was given 20 years however due to time served already, he will serve a minimum of 15 years and 195 days. Bell was sentenced to the youth equivalent of a life sentence and will be detained at His Majesty's Pleasure for a minimum of 18 years.

Previous Conviction and Appeal

Lawrence had previously been convicted of the same offence in May 2022, before his conviction was overturned on appeal.

Incident Details

On Thursday 9th September 2021, Rhamero and his friends had driven to Millennium Park in the Moss Side area. A BMW 1 Series and BMW 3 Series drove past them at speed, while the vehicle Rhamero was in carried on in the direction of Princess Road.

Attack and Pursuit

Two of the males in the BMW 1 Series were Lawrence and Bell. After the vehicle Rhamero was in struggled to get through traffic and was held at the lights, Marquis Richards and Ryan Cashin (both previously sentenced) and Bell approached Rhamero's vehicle, with Richards lunging through the open driver's window with a knife.

Chase and Tragedy

Following this, there was a short pursuit, which resulted in a collision, and left Rhamero and his friends running down Darnley Street, Old Trafford. Richards exited the BMW 1 series carrying a large knife and chased them, followed by Bell and then Cashin who had exited the BMW 3 Series. Lawrence drove down Darnley Street onto Norton Street where he waited for Richards, as did the other car.

Final Moments and Aftermath

On Norton Street, Rhamero began garden hopping to get away from the offenders but then resorted to lying down to hide in one of the front gardens. Shortly after, Rhamero was stabbed multiple times by Ryan Cashin who had chased him down. As Bell arrived on Norton Street he was heard to tell Cashin to get into the BMW 3 Series before getting in himself, with both vehicles then fleeing the scene.

Community Response and Justice

Local residents attempted to administer first aid to Rhamero before paramedics arrived and conducted open heart surgery in the street. He was then taken to hospital but sadly died as a result of his injuries. Both Lawrence’s and Bell’s DNA were discovered in one of the cars involved in the attack and murder of Rhamero, implicating them in the attack and prompting further investigation.

Source and Verification

Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have confirmed the convictions and sentences of Shikeo Bell and Giovanni Lawrence for the murder of Rhamero West. The case involved extensive forensic, CCTV, phone-work, and witness enquiries, which aided in securing the convictions. Rhamero's mother, Kelly Brown, expressed her gratitude for the justice served and the support received throughout the process. Detective Inspector Paul Davies from Greater Manchester Police highlighted the resilience and strength of Rhamero's mother and the dedication of the investigative team. A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service emphasized the complexity of the case and the use of evidence to secure the convictions.