Boy, 14, stabbed man in neck and stomach after he 'mistook him for someone else' in revenge-bid over social media post

A 14-year-old boy was on trial for the attempted murder of a 56-year-old man at Barnfield Road, Southampton, on October 27.

But jurors at Southampton Crown Court were unable to reach a verdict leading to a not guilty verdict.

But the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will instead be sentenced on February 25 for grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed weapon after pleading guilty at a previous hearing.

The court heard the man suffered two stab wounds during an altercation with two teenagers.

The man had been indoors with his wife when a brick and a slab of concrete were thrown through windows of their property.

The man went outside to see what was going on when an altercation took place before he was stabbed - leaving him with ‘two deep stab wounds to his neck and stomach’ - after the boy had ‘mistook him for someone else’.

‘The boy had gone out armed with a blade to seek revenge following a dispute over a social media post, however he targeted the wrong address and the boy ended up stabbing the man, to whom he had no connection with,’ a police statement said.

Detective sergeant Will Whale said ‘This case highlights the risks involved with carrying knives and the devastation it can cause, not only to those involved but also to their friends, families and the wider community. My thoughts are with them all today.’

The second teenager, also 14, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon at a previous hearing. He appeared at Southampton Youth Court in November and was given a 12 month referral order.

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