A man has been convicted of murdering a 16-year-old Syrian refugee, Ahmad Al Ibrahim, after a minor altercation on a busy shopping street in Huddersfield. The incident occurred on April 3, 2025, when Franco, 20, stabbed Ahmad in the neck with a flick knife following a brief verbal exchange. Ahmad, who had fled war-torn Syria, had been living in the UK for only a few weeks before his tragic death.
The confrontation began when Ahmad brushed past Franco’s girlfriend while walking with a friend. Franco, who had been under the influence of various drugs at the time, took offense and engaged in a brief verbal exchange with Ahmad. CCTV footage of the scene showed Franco calling Ahmad over before pulling out the knife and plunging it into the teenager’s neck without warning.
Despite Ahmad being unarmed, Franco maintained that he acted in self-defense, claiming that he believed Ahmad was reaching for a weapon. However, the jury found Franco guilty of murder, rejecting his claims. Prosecutors argued that the stabbing was an unjustified act of aggression and that Franco’s actions were not reasonable self-defense. Franco had a history of using drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, and codeine, which was revealed during the trial.
After the attack, Franco fled the scene but later turned himself in to the police, where he insisted he had acted out of fear. He claimed that growing up in South Africa had shaped his perception of danger, stating that if someone approached him with aggression, they were likely to harm or kill him. However, the prosecution described Franco as a “young man with a cocky swagger,” who, under the influence of drugs, overreacted to a minor situation.
Ahmad’s family was devastated by the loss, with his uncle expressing profound sorrow over the death of a young man who had hoped to become a doctor and build a better life in the UK. Ahmad’s parents, still living in Syria, are heartbroken over the senseless loss of their son, who had dreamed of healing others and escaping the violence of his home country.
The jury deliberated for just over three hours before convicting Franco of murder. He had already pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place. Franco will be sentenced later this week.
