Boy, 14, in court accused of Leo Ross stab murder
FamilyA 14-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with murder over the stabbing of a 12-year-old in Birmingham, with a plea hearing set for spring.
Leo Ross died in hospital after he was found with stab wounds to the stomach near Scribers Lane in Hall Green on Tuesday last week.
The accused, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared before Birmingham Crown Court earlier via video link from youth detention accommodation. He was remanded into its custody.
A plea hearing, at the same court, is set for 22 April when he is due to appear in person. A date for a provisional five-week trial, in Coventry, was set for 23 June.
The teenager, also charged with possessing a bladed article, is additionally accused of three unconnected counts of assault alleged to have been carried out against a woman on 19, 20 and 21 January.
There are three further charges of assault relating to alleged attacks on a woman on 22 October, and two police officers on 26 November.
All but the charges relating to the officers have been transferred to Crown Court, with the remainder set for a mention hearing before Youth Court on Thursday.
Leo, a pupil at Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood, Birmingham, was believed to have been making his way home from school when he was stabbed.
Members of the public came to his aid and called emergency services but he died in hospital at about 19:30 GMT.
The 12-year-old was a "lively and happy young man" with "many, very good friends", executive head teacher Diane Henson said.
His family described him as "an amazing, kind and loving boy".
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