Latest news with #VapeMinimarket
The Independent
21-05-2025
- The Independent
Two 15-year-old boys among three teenagers convicted of vape shop murder
Three teenagers, including two boys aged 15, have been found guilty of murdering a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed in a vape shop. Abdurrahman Summers, aged 18, had to be wrestled from the dock as he screamed abuse at the jury which unanimously convicted him of murdering Reuben Higgins at the Vape Minimarket in Marston Green, Solihull, on October 29 last year. Jurors deliberated for nearly 16 hours and also returned unanimous guilty verdicts on Wednesday on a charge of murder against two boys aged 15, who cannot be named because of their age. A trial at Birmingham Crown Court was told by the prosecution that the defendants acted like a 'pack of wild animals' and were 'part of a culture where knives are worshipped and carried'. All three defendants denied murder but declined to give evidence to the jury. Summers reacted to his conviction, in front of a packed public gallery, by shouting: 'Man never done nothing. I'm f****** innocent bro. I didn't touch no one bro.' The defendant, of Yardley, Birmingham, continued to swear as he was removed from the dock by a security officer. Three loud bangs were then heard from behind the door Summers had been taken through. Judge Paul Farrer KC said he wanted reports to be prepared on both 15-year-old defendants before sentence is passed on August 5. Judge Farrer thanked the jury for their service and told them: 'On this side of the court we are conscious that you have to serve as jurors at huge personal inconvenience.' The judge added that the jury members did not have to leave the building immediately and could 'decompress' if they wished before doing so. In a statement issued in November last year, the victim's family said in a statement: 'Reuben was a loving son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin who will be dearly missed by his family and friends. ' Life will never be the same without him.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teens guilty of murder in vape shop stabbing
Three teenagers have been found guilty of murdering a 17-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in a vape shop. Reuben Higgins was attacked on Station Road, Marston Green, Solihull, on 29 October and died at the scene. Abdurrahman Summers, 18, and two 15-year-old boys, who cannot be named due to their age, were convicted of murder by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday. The three teenagers, who had denied the charges against them, are due to be sentenced on 5 August. During the trial, a witness who was working at the Vape Minimarket on the day of the attack described how a "confused and frightened" Reuben ran into the shop just before 18:30 GMT. Reuben used his body to barricade the door in an attempt to stop a group of people from following him into the shop, the witness added. He said his limited English meant he could not understand everything that was being said but the group was "very aggressive". Eventually the attackers burst through the door, picked Reuben up and moved him to the corner of the shop where they attacked him. "I saw he was bleeding on his thigh and then he was holding his chest as well by his hand," said the witness. "He was shouting. He was screaming and he was in pain. It seems to me he was asking for help." The defendants did not give evidence at their trial but statements they gave police were read out in evidence. Summers, from Yardley, denied knowing Reuben and attacking him, adding he had played "no part in this tragedy". Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Vape shop murder accused denies role 'in tragedy' Vape shop stab victim 'died screaming for help' HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
30-04-2025
- BBC News
Solihull vape shop stab victim, 17, 'died after screaming for help'
A 17-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in a Solihull vape shop was "crying and screaming for help" after bursting into the store, a trial has Higgins had tried to stop his attackers getting into the shop before they overwhelmed the door, seconds before he he was stabbed and died at the scene in Marston Green, Birmingham Crown Court was Summers, 18, from Yardley, is on trial with two 15-year-old boys who can't be named because of their age. All three deny murdering Reuben, on 29 October last court previously heard a fourth suspect, who can't be named for legal reasons, is believed to have fled the country. On Wednesday, the jury heard that on the day Reuben died the man working at the Vape Minimarket in Marston Green, was helping out the owner, a friend, as a evidence to the court from behind a screen, the witness said he didn't usually work there but was alone when a "confused and frightened" Reuben ran into the shop and closed the door behind him, just before 18:30 GMT. He recalled that Reuben was lying down and "trying hard" to keep the door shut with his body, before three or four men began striking the shop's entrance and trying to get in."He was crying and screaming for help," the witness said of Reuben. "He was lying behind the door. He was pushing back. He didn't want the door to be opened."The man, who was speaking through a Sorani Kurdish interpreter, said a language barrier meant he didn't know exactly what was being said, but the group appeared to be shouting and swearing."They were very aggressive," he told the court. 'Bleeding on thigh' The worker said he was "very afraid" and told the group to go the attackers eventually overwhelmed the door, he said, before picking Reuben up by the back of his clothing and moving him to the corner of the shop to attack him."He seemed very afraid of the situation," the witness said."I think he was asking, 'Don't hit me'."The witness said he couldn't recall whether there were three or four men who attacked Reuben but added they all came into the shop, with nobody remaining explained the attack happened "very quickly" and he didn't see any weapons or he said he saw the men moving their hands in a stabbing motion with a closed fist, attacking Reuben until he fell to the floor."I saw he was bleeding on his thigh and then he was holding his chest as well by his hand," the witness said."He was shouting. He was screaming and he was in pain. It seems to me he was asking for help." 'Tallest man most aggressive' The shopworker said the tallest attacker was most the aggressive during the assault, and came back into the shop shortly afterwards to look for a phone he had dropped during the people from outside tried to come and help shortly after the fatal attack, he added, before ambulances and police arrived to help Reuben with his Singh KC, defending one of the 15-year-olds, questioned the store worker's suggested a bearded man, whom Reuben had been seen in the shop with earlier that day, was the main attacker rather than the tallest of the men."I'm going to suggest to you that the bearded man was making a thrusting motion," he said."The bearded man was the most aggressive man in that shop wasn't he?"The shopworker replied all of the men were doing a thrusting motion, including the bearded man."He was aggressive but the tallest one was the more aggressive one," the shop keeper trial continues. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Boy, 17, stabbed to death inside vape shop after being chased and attacked by gang, court hears – as suspect flees UK
One of the suspects allegedly accused Reuben of pulling a knife KNIFE HORROR Boy, 17, stabbed to death inside vape shop after being chased and attacked by gang, court hears – as suspect flees UK Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BOY was stabbed to death inside a vape shop after being chased and attacked by a gang, a court has heard. Moments after the fatal knifing, Reuben Higgins, 17, was captured on CCTV pleading with a store worker: "Call an ambulance, I'm dying". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The attack took place at Vape Minimarket in Marston Green in October last year Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 3 The suspects accused Reuben of pulling a knife leading up the attack, it was claimed Credit: West Midlands Police Three teenagers - Abdurrahman Summers, 18, and two unnamed 15-year-olds - are this week standing trial for murder. Cops have also identified a fourth suspect who is believed to have fled the country. Reuben was with friends in Marston Green, West Midlands, when he was approached by a group of similarly aged males at around 6pm on October 29 last year, the prosecution claimed. Opening the case on Tuesday, prosecutor Richard Atkins KC told Birmingham Crown Court: "Following a short conversation, those three and the missing man chased after Reuben and attacked him. "The shop was called Vape Minimarket, where Reuben was stabbed four times, receiving fatal injuries from which he died at the scene. "We say these three and the missing man are guilty of murder." Atkins alleged that one of the gang, the missing suspect, accused Reuben of pulling a knife on him leading up to the attack - which Reuben denied. The same man allegedly asked Reuben to "come around the corner and talk to him, which Reuben said he didn't want to do". The victim's friends then claim to have seen the man and his group "reach for their waistbands", causing them to run. One of the attackers was holding a "Rambo knife", it was claimed. Atkins continued: "Reuben ran into Vape Minimarket, obviously scared, and tried to prevent the chasing group from entering by lying down on the floor across the door. "But it was an unequal contest, four against one, and they forced their way in." The shop's CCTV was angled away from the door - meaning the events were only partially captured. However, it did reveal one of the 15-year-olds and the missing suspect to be inside, the lawyer claimed. In the footage, which was played to the court, a pool of blood could seen on the shop floor - before a voice was heard saying "where's my phone?" "He's (Reuben) calling for help. That man (the 15-year-old) did nothing to help," Atkin said. "All he wanted was his phone. We suggest that it may tell you quite a lot about what was going on." He went on: "They forced the door open, then they attacked Reuben. "They didn't just attack him with fists and feet but with a knife or knives and Reuben was stabbed multiple times. "You can hear some of what was said. Reuben was shouting 'don't hit me, don't hit me', but they ignored him." Reuben sustained a fatal stab wound to the heart, as well as two further stab wounds to the thigh and one to the arm. One of the wounds penetrated 15cm deep. Paramedics rushed to the shop, but the 17-year-old had already suffered catastrophic blood loss and sadly died at the scene. The prosecutor alleged that one of the 15-year-old defendants, who was "very tall", was the "most aggressive" during the attack. It was allegedly this same boy who inquired after his phone - before taking Reuben's instead. He then caught the wrong bus, taking him past the scene of the crime and necessitating him to crouch down away from the sight of police, the court heard. Meanwhile, Summers and the missing suspect allegedly caught a bus to London Victoria in the early hours of the following morning. Summers then attempted to purchase tickets to fly to Spain while the other man fled abroad, it was claimed. The three defendants were arrested in early November - with one of the 15-year-olds subsequently pleading manslaughter. The prosecution has not accepted the plea. All three defendants deny any intent to kill or cause serious harm to the teenager. The trial continues.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Boy, 17, stabbed to death inside vape shop after being chased and attacked by gang, court hears – as suspect flees UK
A BOY was stabbed to death inside a vape shop after being chased and attacked by a gang, a court has heard. Moments after the fatal knifing, Reuben Higgins, 17, was captured on CCTV pleading with a store worker: "Call an ambulance, I'm dying". 3 The attack took place at Vape Minimarket in Marston Green in October last year Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 3 The suspects accused Reuben of pulling a knife leading up the attack, it was claimed Credit: West Midlands Police Three teenagers - Abdurrahman Summers, 18, and two unnamed 15-year-olds - are this week standing trial for murder. Cops have also identified a fourth suspect who is believed to have fled the country. Reuben was with friends in Marston Green, West Midlands, when he was approached by a group of similarly aged males at around 6pm on October 29 last year, the prosecution claimed. Opening the case on Tuesday, prosecutor Richard Atkins KC told Birmingham Crown Court: "Following a short conversation, those three and the missing man chased after Reuben and attacked him. read more uk news "The shop was called Vape Minimarket, where Reuben was stabbed four times, receiving fatal injuries from which he died at the scene. "We say these three and the missing man are guilty of murder." Atkins alleged that one of the gang, the missing suspect, accused Reuben of pulling a knife on him leading up to the attack - which Reuben denied. The same man allegedly asked Reuben to "come around the corner and talk to him, which Reuben said he didn't want to do". Most read in The Sun The victim's friends then claim to have seen the man and his group "reach for their waistbands", causing them to run. One of the attackers was holding a "Rambo knife", it was claimed. Atkins continued: "Reuben ran into Vape Minimarket, obviously scared, and tried to prevent the chasing group from entering by lying down on the floor across the door. "But it was an unequal contest, four against one, and they forced their way in." The shop's CCTV was angled away from the door - meaning the events were only partially captured. However, it did reveal one of the 15-year-olds and the missing suspect to be inside, the lawyer claimed. In the footage, which was played to the court, a pool of blood could seen on the shop floor - before a voice was heard saying "where's my phone?" "He's (Reuben) calling for help. That man (the 15-year-old) did nothing to help," Atkin said. "All he wanted was his phone. We suggest that it may tell you quite a lot about what was going on." He went on: "They forced the door open, then they attacked Reuben. "They didn't just attack him with fists and feet but with a knife or knives and Reuben was stabbed multiple times. "You can hear some of what was said. Reuben was shouting 'don't hit me, don't hit me', but they ignored him." Reuben sustained a fatal stab wound to the heart, as well as two further stab wounds to the thigh and one to the arm. One of the wounds penetrated 15cm deep. Paramedics rushed to the shop, but the 17-year-old had already suffered catastrophic blood loss and sadly died at the scene. The prosecutor alleged that one of the 15-year-old defendants, who was "very tall", was the "most aggressive" during the attack. It was allegedly this same boy who inquired after his phone - before taking Reuben's instead. He then caught the wrong bus, taking him past the scene of the crime and necessitating him to crouch down away from the sight of police, the court heard. Meanwhile, Summers and the missing suspect allegedly caught a bus to London Victoria in the early hours of the following morning. Summers then attempted to purchase tickets to fly to Spain while the other man fled abroad, it was claimed. The three defendants were arrested in early November - with one of the 15-year-olds subsequently pleading manslaughter. The prosecution has not accepted the plea. All three defendants deny any intent to kill or cause serious harm to the teenager. The trial continues. 3 Reuben died at the scene after suffering catastrophic blood loss Credit: West Midlands Police
