A man has been found guilty of manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with the fatal stabbing of teenager Jamie Meah in Armley, Leeds. Ranei Wilks, 23, was cleared of murder and attempted murder charges by a jury at Leeds Crown Court this week.
The tragic incident occurred in March 2023 when Jamie Meah, 18, was fatally stabbed while riding in a taxi with a 16-year-old boy who was also seriously injured. The pair was pulled out of the taxi by a group of men in Armley, Leeds. Prosecutors described the attack as a “vicious, sustained, barbaric and brutal assault” involving stabbing, kicking, and punching.
During the trial, it was revealed that Mr. Meah and the 16-year-old had taken a taxi to various locations in Leeds before arriving at Hall Lane in Armley, where the violent altercation took place. The prosecution alleged that Mr. Meah had been targeted by members of a rival drugs gang.
One of the suspects was reported to have been wielding a “long knife,” which the taxi driver likened to a sword. Despite the efforts of Mr. Meah to seek help at a nearby residence, he lost consciousness before paramedics could intervene. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
It was disclosed that following the attack, four suspects fled the UK the next day, while Ranei Wilks was apprehended upon his return to the country from Turkey in April 2024. The other three individuals allegedly involved in the assault – Caleb Awe, Aquade Jeffers, and Enham Nishat – remain at large.
Testifying during the trial, Wilks denied any active participation in the violence. He claimed to have been in a vehicle with three other men who exited the car upon encountering someone with a knife. Wilks asserted that he remained in the vehicle due to fear of harm and maintained that he was not involved in the assault or stabbing. When questioned about the description of the knife-wielding individual provided by the taxi driver, Wilks suggested the driver may have been mistaken or confused.
The jury ultimately found Wilks guilty of manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 3 February for his role in the fatal incident. Meanwhile, the search for the remaining suspects continues as authorities work to bring all individuals involved in the tragic death of Jamie Meah to justice.
