Baby-Faced Killers Revealed: ‘I Am Hugely Supportive’ of Justice in the Case of Nathaniel Shani

The teen killers of a 14-year-old boy, Nathaniel Shani, have been named and pictured for the first time. Kyle Dermody and Trey Stewart-Gayle left Nathaniel, an air cadet, with a “gaping wound” in his neck following a violent encounter.

Nathaniel Shani’s killers can now be publicly identified after the High Court ruled it was in the public interest. Kyle Dermody, now 15, fatally stabbed Nathaniel after an argument over cannabis. Trey Stewart-Gayle, 14, was convicted of murder for encouraging and assisting Dermody during the attack.

Last month, both teens were sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison. Reporting restrictions had previously banned the release of their names, but they can now be disclosed following a legal challenge by the Manchester Evening News. Mrs. Justice Ellenbogen stated, “The public will wish to know the identities of those who commit such a serious offence in seeking to understand how it is that children of that age can do so.”

She continued, “Knife crime in general and the circumstances of this particular case are matters of substantial public interest.” Nathaniel, who was dedicated to his air cadet duties, had ironed his uniform and polished his shoes just hours before his tragic death in Manchester. Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand emphasized the dangers of knife carrying, saying, “Nathaniel’s death is a bleak reminder of what happens when children choose to carry knives, in their words, ‘for their protection’. It is never for protection – knives are carried and used with the intent to cause really serious harm.”

The killers were both detained at His Majesty’s Pleasure, the youth equivalent of a life sentence. Dermody will serve at least 13 years, while Stewart-Gayle, who had been armed with a screwdriver, will serve at least 10 years. Manchester Crown Court heard that Nathaniel was stabbed on September 15 following a row over stolen cannabis.

Nathaniel and Dermody had been friends and attended Manchester Communications Academy together. On the day of the incident, they met around 6 p.m. in an alleyway in Harpurhey for a “fight to settle differences.” Nathaniel punched Dermody, who then produced a knife and stabbed him. In the weeks leading up to his death, Nathaniel had become involved in drug dealing through older individuals. The trial judge remarked, “Whatever his flaws, Nathaniel did not deserve to die, and not in such a violent way.”

The revelation of the identities of Nathaniel Shani’s killers underscores the gravity of the crime and the public’s interest in understanding how such young individuals could commit such a heinous act.