Portsmouth Guildhall stabbing: Man guilty of manslaughter

A man has been found guilty of fatally stabbing a teenager and attacking two more people in a city square.

Police said Donell Charles, 23, approached friends sitting on the steps of Portsmouth Guildhall in July 2023 and attacked them with a zombie-style knife.

Aimen Ahmed, 18, of Horndean, Hampshire, died a short time later, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

Charles, formerly of Southsea, admitted manslaughter with diminished responsibility following a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Police said the victims were watching a football match on the phone at around 11pm on July 29 and the defendant spoke to them briefly.

Detectives added that the man returned minutes later with a large, serrated knife and launched the attack.

Aimen Ahmed was stabbed in the stomach, while two other members of the group were slightly injured.

Charles, formerly of St Peters Grove, was arrested two days later after visiting the scene several times and being identified.

He was initially charged with murder, attempted murder and actual bodily harm.

But the trial jury was told he was going through a psychotic episode at the time of the attack.

The judge ordered jurors to consider the defendant’s guilty plea to manslaughter and two counts of inflicting actual bodily harm.

Charles had previously admitted owning the knife and not giving police the code to his phone.

He will be sentenced on December 17.

Det Insp Elizabeth Brunt said: “We hope today’s result brings closure and also some comfort to Aimen’s foster family.”

The family previously said: “Aimen had such a kind, beautiful and innocent soul and her big infectious smile would melt your heart and make you laugh.

“He was a kid with dreams and quiet determination who worked hard in college and wanted to achieve something in his life.”