Mother guilty of murdering boy aged 17

A mother has been found guilty of the murder of a 17-year-old boy.

Nichola Leighton, 36, became “furious” after the victim Levi Ernest-Morrison and his friends kept knocking on her door, the Old Bailey heard.

She drove a group of youths in her Suzuki 4×4 jeep, some of whom got out and chased Levi and a friend, it was alleged.

Levi was then fatally stabbed in Sydenham, south London, on the evening of April 10.

Afterwards, the youths sprinted back to the waiting car which sped away, jurors were told.

Leighton, of Sydenham, her son Tyreese Ulysses, 19, and three youths aged 15, 16 and 17, had denied murder.

A jury deliberated for more than 39 hours to find Leighton guilty by a majority of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Two youths, aged 16 and 17, were unanimously found guilty of murder and the 15-year-old was convicted of having an offensive weapon.

However, the jury have yet to reach verdicts on Ulysses, from Catford, south London, who is accused of murder and having an offensive weapon.

Jurors have also not decided on the murder charge relating to the youngest defendant.

After taking the partial verdicts on Wednesday, Judge Peter Rook QC sent the jury home.

He told them to return on Friday to continue to deliberate on the remaining charges.