SCHOOLBOY KILLER Boy, 15, found guilty of murder after stabbing Alfie Lewis, 15, to death near a school in Leeds

Sobs were heard from Alfie's family as his killer was convicted

A 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of stabbing to death Alfie Lewis near a school in Leeds.

Alfie, also 15, was stabbed with a 13cm knife "in full view" of horrified pupils in the Horsforth area of West Yorkshire in November last year.

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Alfie Lewis was stabbed to death near a schoolCredit: PA

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Tributes left on a bench on Broadgate Lane, Horsforth, following Alfie's deathCredit: PA

The defendant, who was 14 at the time, was convicted of murder at Leeds Crown Court today.

Sobs were heard from Alfie's family in the public gallery as the verdict was read out.

Family members, most of whom were wearing t-shirts with pictures of Alfie saying "Forever 15", consoled and hugged each other.

Judge, Mr Justice Cotter, will sentence the youth on June 21.He told the defendant: "You have been found guilty of murder. There is only one sentence I can pass.

"What I have to determine is how many years you will be detained before you are able to be released."

Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, told the court last week that Alfie had been walking down the street to meet friends when the defendant attacked him.

Witnesses recalled Alfie looking "surprised and shocked" and saying to the defendant: “What are you doing?” as the incident unfolded close to St Margaret’s Primary School.Mr Hassall added: "Alfie did not get as far as meeting any of his friends that day.

“He was approached by (the defendant), and stabbed twice – once in the chest and once in the leg.

“He collapsed and died in the road close to the primary school in full view of scores of pupils leaving school and the people who were waiting to collect them."

A post-mortem examination subsequently revealed the fatal stab injury was a 14cm deep wound to Alfie’s chest, puncturing his heart.

Mr Hassall continued: "(The defendant) then fled the scene, dropping the murder weapon in the road close to the primary school."

Jurors were told all witnesses were "consistent" in recalling how Alfie was "not the aggressor".

The prosecutor said: "Insofar as any of the witnesses saw Alfie doing anything towards (the defendant), they describe him trying in vain to defend himself from (the defendant’s) knife."

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had told the jury he was scared of Alfie following two incidents in the months before.

But he was convicted of murder a jury of five men and seven women today.

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Police at the scene following the fatal stabbing