Godmother and brother locked up after helping teenage murderers

A man and woman who helped the murderers of a teenager after they viciously stabbed him outside a Huddersfield school in broad daylight have been jailed.

Shereen Brown, 40, and Javayne John, 22, were sentenced to 30 months and 20 months respectively when they appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday (October 31).

Brown, of Dewhurst Road in Fartown, was previously found guilty of committing an act or series of acts with the intent to pervert the course of justice. John had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, reports LeedsLive.

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It followed the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Khayri Mclean, who was stabbed in the chest as he was walking home from his school in Huddersfield on September 21, 2022.

Murderers Jakele Pusey, 17, and Jovani Harriott, 18, were both previously jailed. Pusey, who pleaded guilty to murder, was sentenced in May 2023 to life with a minimum of 16 years. Harriott, who was found guilty following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 18 years.

On Thursday, prosecutor Ben Hammersley told the court: "The case centres around the murder of Khayri Mclean on 21st September, 2022, by Jakele Pusey and Jovani Harriott as he made his way home from school. Prior to this, Jakele Pusey was seen to leave his home address carrying a backpack. He walked before meeting Jovani Harriott who arrived in a taxi.

"They walked a short distance to a secluded footpath that leads to the [North Huddersfield Trust School] fields. Upon entering, Jakele Pusey could be seen in possession of a rucksack and Jovani Harriott of a yellow bag."

The court heard the pair changed their clothing and were not seen with the bags again, but were seen in their initial clothing after the stabbing. Mr Hammersley said: "It is the Crown's case that they changed their clothing and left them in the bags and made their way from the area."

It was said Brown is the godmother of her co-defendant and Pusey. John is Pusey's half-brother. The court was told: "Shereen Brown had been having several calls with various members of Jakele and Jovani's families."

Mr Hammersley said both Brown and John were seen going to the wooded area and retrieving the bags, before John was picked up by another man - Keelan John-Matheson, who was found not guilty of committing an act or series of acts with the intent to pervert the course of justice. John returned without the bags and neither have been recovered.

The court heard both John and Brown were arrested on October 19, 2022 and answered "no comment" in two interviews. Brown had previous convictions on her record, but only for driving offences since 2006. John had no previous convictions, cautions or reprimands.

Mitigating, Richard Holland, said a pre-sentence report and a reference from Brown's son had been given to the court. He told the judge: "She is most grateful for you allowing her to make arrangements for the care of her son [since the trial.] The prosecution says she must have orchestrated the plan to recover and dispose of the bags.

"There was phone contact and that will be the inference that they rely on and to a degree, but the family were concerned for the welfare of those that did it and concerns that they were involved in the attack. The pre-sentence report reports her possible motivation as having been misplaced loyalty."

It was said Brown is a single parent who has worked two cleaning jobs and is living in rented accommodation, which she could now lose.

Mr Holland said: "You will now from the pre-sentence report that her son has managed to get admission to a highly-rated college in consequence of the success that he has had in his GCSEs and that is in no small measure due to the concern and support his mum has given him over that period of time in the absence of his father. The letter from him describes her as the most important person in his life. When she is eventually released she will have to pick up the pieces."

Mitigating for Javayne John, Danielle Gilmour told the court: "He was three months into his 20th birthday. Up until that point, despite challenges in his own background, he didn't have a single conviction, caution or reprimand. It appeared to be out of instinct borne out of his love for his brother and lack of maturity and thinking skills.

"It was a fast-paced environment. The defendant instructs me he was not aware of the full horror of what had happened at that time. He understands he needs to be punished and needs help when it comes to making decisions."

His Honour Judge Clark told Brown and John: "It must have been obvious that people were talking about what happened - even if they didn't know Khayri Mclean had been murdered. You will have been aware there was an attack on a child outside a school in broad daylight.

"It must have had an impact on the investigation. It may not have been particularly significant as the CCTV made it clear who the murderers were...The bags would have been important to police even after the arrest. The bags and their contents would have been very important evidence...so this is very serious."

The judge told Brown and John they will have to serve up to half of their sentences in custody before being released on licence.

Detective Superintendent Marc Bowes who led the investigation into Khayri’s murder said: "The murder of Khayri was an appalling offence which shocked not only the local community, but the nation and I am pleased to see Shereen Brown and Javayne John jailed today for their roles in the related offending.

“Perverting the course of justice is an extremely serious offence, and it is difficult to think of a more extreme example than trying to assist two killers evade arrest for the brutal murder of a schoolboy in broad daylight.

“An extensive investigation was launched by West Yorkshire Police into Khayri’s murder, and I hope these convictions demonstrate that we will leave no stone unturned to pursue every possible line of enquiry in such cases, and serve as a warning to anyone tempted to assist an offender to evade justice that you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”