Teenager found guilty of shooting Hackney schoolgirl Shereka Marsh

Schoolgirl Shereka Marsh. Photograph: The Urswick School

A 15 year-old boy has been found guilty of manslaughter after he shot Hackney schoolgirl Shereka Fab-Ann Marsh on his birthday.

Ms Marsh, 15, a pupil at the Urswick School, died at a house in Eastway on March 22 after being shot in the neck.

The boy, also 15, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was convicted at the Old Bailey of killing the teenager as she sat with him in his bedroom.

The court heard that paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were called to the house shortly before 4pm on March 22 to reports of a teenager suffering serious injuries.

The police discovered Shereka collapsed on a bed at the address. Despite attempts to revive the schoolgirl, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found that Ms Marsh died from a single gunshot wound to the neck.

Ms Marsh had agreed to meet the teenager at the address to celebrate his 15th birthday.

She had spent the morning before she died buying him presents and the gifts were discovered by police still in their wrappings at the scene.

The counterfeit 1930s Italian Beretta pistol used to kill Shereka Marsh.

Shyrine Mills, Ms Marsh’s mother, said that since the death of her daughter she has been “paralysed by grief and pain”. She said: “Shereka’s life was tragically cut short because of the negligent actions by one of her peers who took it upon himself to involve himself in activities that no child should ever be involved with.

“Guns are not toys and should only be handled by trained professionals in extreme circumstances. But for his actions we wouldn’t be here today.

“Shereka and the defendant should be in school, preparing for their GCSEs and we all should have been going about our normal daily business, while the courts deal with hardened criminals.

Paying tribute to her only child, she said: “Shereka was an easy child to love, she was eager to please, extraordinarily kind and always polite and respectful. She was fun, popular, compassionate and a loyal friend.

“I will forever cherish every moment I spent with her and there were so many happy memories.”

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Perry Benton, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This was a tragic and senseless incident which resulted in the death of a young and ambitious schoolgirl.

“Shereka was a much-cherished daughter and had everything to live for. This incident demonstrates that guns are lethal weapons and when placed in the hands of children can have devastating consequences.”

The defendent was also found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He will be sentenced on a date to be confirmed in four weeks’ time.

 Two 16 year olds who were also arrested in connection with the shooting were later released without charged.