Teen Jailed for Killing Friend in East London Park Stabbing

A teenager has been sentenced to prison for fatally stabbing a former school friend during a confrontation in an east London park.

The 16-year-old, whose identity is protected due to his age, received a 12-year sentence at the Old Bailey on Friday, 20 June. He was found guilty of the manslaughter of 15-year-old Pharell Garcia following a trial that ended in February, though he was acquitted of murder. The judge labeled him a “dangerous offender” and ordered a minimum of seven years to be served behind bars.

The incident occurred on 23 July 2019, when the boy, then 15, stabbed Pharell in the heart during a dispute in a park near Stellman Close, Hackney. After the attack, he chased Pharell as he fled, ultimately watching him collapse before fleeing the scene without offering assistance. The knife was later discarded.

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, condemned the teenager's actions and failure to take responsibility. She highlighted that the boy had claimed in court that the weapon—a multi-tool—had been brought by Pharell, but forensic evidence contradicted that story. Allen emphasized that the defendant had a choice to de-escalate but instead chose to stab Pharell and flee, trying to destroy evidence afterward. Investigators also found 43 images and videos from the days before the stabbing showing the teen handling knives, suggesting an unhealthy obsession.

Pharell’s death sent shockwaves through the communities of Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Detective Superintendent Brittany Clarke described it as a profound tragedy not only for the victim’s loved ones but also for the wider community. She acknowledged a general decline in violence in Hackney but stressed that knife crime remains a pressing issue.

Clarke encouraged young people who feel compelled to carry knives to seek support from trusted adults, warning against the dangers of such choices.

Emergency services responded to the incident at around 4:05pm, but despite their efforts, Pharell was declared dead at the scene.

The court heard that the victim and the attacker had arranged to meet after falling out. The defendant had reportedly told another friend he planned to fight Pharell over something he had said. After the stabbing, he went to stay with a family friend, where he was arrested early the next morning.

Police recovered the weapon and forensic evidence linked it to both boys. A review of the teenager’s phone revealed exchanges with Pharell in the days before the killing and numerous images and videos of him playing with knives. He had also texted his mother after the stabbing, asking her to remove certain items from their home and saying he wanted to leave for Portugal.

He was arrested on 25 July and later convicted of manslaughter.