Teenager gets life sentence for killing with comb

Murdered: Julie Sheriff. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PA

A 16 year-old girl has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a Hackney teenager with a pintail comb.

On 28 August, Rebecca Douglas was ordered to serve a minimum of ten years after she was found guilty of murdering 16 year-old Julie Sheriff on 7 May last year.

Rebecca stabbed Julie on the left-hand side of her head with the metal end of a pintail comb. Following the assault, Julie remained unconscious until she sadly died in hospital on 21 September.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries with associated complications.

The court heard that on the day she was assaulted, Julie was with a friend when they were approached by Rebecca who was just 15 years old at the time. An argument between the two girls ensued and during this argument Julie received what was to be a fatal blow to the left-hand side of her head.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola, Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “The violent actions of Rebecca Douglas, just 15 years old at the time, has devastated a family and taken a young life. Our thoughts remain with Julie’s family at this difficult time.”

Julie’s stepmother, Isatu Kamara, said: “The attack on my daughter was a wicked, savage and senseless attack, which not only took my daughter’s life, but deprived me and my entire family and this, will always hurt me.”