‘It’s like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders’- statement from Harvey’s mother
Harvey Willgoose’s mother, Caroline Willgoose, spoke to press outside Sheffield Crown Court after the sentencing of her child’s killer.
She said: ”We’re just going to be campaigning now against knife crime and for safer schools.
”I feel like he’s been made an example of to be honest, I’m really pleased.”
Harvey’s family have now left court.
BREAKING: Mrs Justice Ellenbogen sentences Khan to a minimum term of 16 years.
The judge said to Khan: “The minimum term which I impose in your case is 15 years and 106 days.”
Khan will now leave the dock, following his sentencing.
With the hearing now come to an end, family members of Harvey have now left the court room.
Psychiatrists say that Khan experienced neglect and violence at his home, the Judge told the court.
The Youth Justice team reports that Khan is “well mannered and polite” and he has a “mature attitude to conflict”.
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen said: “The prosecution does not suggest you came into school that morning with intention to kill…. but the severe force you used and the fact that you stabbed Harvey twice indicated the high degree of bodily harm you intended to cause him.
“You acted in hurt and in anger.”
The judge said: “The sentence for murder is fixed by law.
“You are under the age of 18 at the time of your offending… I must sentence you to a life sentence in as secure place.
“It is important that you and the public understands that a minimum term means just that.”
Judge sentencing
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen is now back in court and summarising the facts of the case.
She says “Initially, you and Harvey were friends.” She refers back to when Khan first moved to All Saints Catholic High School.
The judge explains how CCTV captured a number of interactions of Khan and Harvey on the day of the murder.
On the morning of Harvey’s death, the pair of them had spoken over messages about whether there was “beef” between them.
49 seconds after Khan stabbed him, Harvey collapsed on the ground, the judge told the court.
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen tells the court that Khan had online search history involving “zombie killer knives”.
Judge leaves court to consider sentence
Mr Hussain’s defence submissions have now concluded.
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen has just left court to consider the sentence.
Defence says Khan didn’t intend to inflict harm
Reports from the BBC state that Mr Hussain, defending, told the court that khan “armed himself, but that wasn’t with the intention of inflicting harm that day”.
He said the friendship between Harvey and another young person who the trial heard was accused of bullying Khan “cannot be ignored”.
Mr Hussain added: “We make it clear, (the alleged bullying towards Khan) was not at the hands of Harvey.”
The defence added Khan had a fear of violence and sought to defend himself.
Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, defending, told the court: “The fact that can never be forgotten, should never be forgotten, is the tragic, heartless, senseless loss of a young innocent life.
“The family of Harvey will live with his loss forever more.
“That is not lost on Umar, on his family, on anyone who’s had dealings in this case.”
Prosecuting remarks
Richard Thyne KC, prosecuting, tells the court that Khan’s main defence was that he suffered a legal loss of control at the moment he killed Harvey.
A pupil told the court how moments before the stabbing, ‘Umar just suddenly talked about a knife’.
The court heard that Khan, 15, had a history of carrying knives to school.
Prosecutor Richard Thyne says Khan’s actions were “ultimately in anger or retaliation, rather than self-defence”.
Reports from the BBC state that just last week, Harvey’s grandad sadly passed away.
Sophie Willgoose told the court that their grandad attended court daily to fight for “justice”.
She said: “This was not just a crime against Harvey, this was a crime against all who loved him.
“The fear, pain and grief will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”
“Our lives were shattered” – Statement from Harvey’s sister
According to The Star, Sophie Willgoose has given her statement. She described the moment her family found out that their beloved son and brother, had died.
She said: “My mum screamed out in pain, my dad collapsed.
“In that moment, our lives were shattered”
We are expecting to hear victim statements from members of Harvey’s family.
Umar Khan is in the dock, we are just awaiting the judge, Mrs Justice Ellenbogen.
Court will now resume proceedings following the lunchtime break. Umar Khan’s sentencing will begin shortly.
2:00pm
Members of Harvey’s family have now re-entered the court room ahead of the judge’s sentencing.
Journalists and others have been allowed back into Court 1 at Sheffield Crown Court.
BREAKING: Mrs Justice Ellenbogen has lifted the S45 reporting restriction, allowing us to name the killer of Harvey Willgoose.
The defendant, who is also 15, is Mohammed Umar Khan.
According to SkyNews, Mrs Justice Ellenbogen is now considering the impact of naming the defendant before he turns 18.
Judge back in court to give anonymity decision
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen is now back in the court room.
Court is paused again for defendant to speak with his legal team
The defendant’s legal team are currently speaking with him to discuss the arguments around his anonymity.
This is happening outside the courtroom.
The judge is back in the court room now.
The judge is due to return to court at 11:45am
Awaiting the Judge
11:35am
The judge is yet to arrive back into court to make a decision on whether or not Harvey Willgoose’s killer can be named.
People inside the courtroom have been waiting for around 45 minutes, whilst she considers the submissions.
Why has Harvey’s killer not been named?
The law is that a judge can impose reporting restrictions in order to protect victims or young people.
Under Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, it states that a criminal court can grant anonymity to a juvenile defendant.
This means members of the media cannot publish anything that would identify him, including his name, address, school, any place of work or any pictures of him.
However, at the beginning of this trial, multiple news organisations including the BBC and The Star, put an application in to the judge to vary that order.
It is of the view that it is in the public interest to know the identity of the person who committed such a serious attack in a local school.
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen is set to decide whether to life the restriction, which would allow the press and the public to name the boy.
The Case
On 3 February 2025 at 12:15pm, the defendant stabbed his fellow pupil Harvey Willgoose at All Saints High School during their lunch break.
CCTV footage of the stabbing showed the defendant stabbing Harvey twice, once in the chest and once in the abdomen.
This resulted in the unfortunate death of 15 year old Harvey.
A jury at Sheffield Crown Court found the defendant guilty of murdering Harvey on 8 August 2025.
So after months of waiting, the family of Harvey will today learn what sentence the murderer will receive.
Following this, Harvey’s parents have set up a youth club in his memory and have called for knife arches to be set up in schools across the country.
10:55am
According to The Star, the Lead Prosecution counsel, Richard Thyne KC, has addressed the court and told them the prosecution are ‘neutral’ on lifting any reporting restrictions on naming the defendant.
10:45am
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen has left court to consider whether to lift the reporting restriction involved in banning the name of the defendant.
Harvey’s family have made their way up to the public gallery ready to see the sentencing unfold.
The Judge, Mrs Justice Ellenbogen DBE, will sentence the murderer, who currently cannot be named, today at 10am, after a long five week trial.
Wed, 9:50am
Harvey Willgoose’s parents arrive at Sheffield Crown Court ahead of sentencing.
Today we will be bringing you live updates as the murderer of Harvey Willgoose is sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.