Convictions of seven black teenagers was influenced by racism and 'cultural ignorance', court told

ITV Granada Reports' correspondent Elaine Willcox reported from the Royal Courts of Justice

The convictions of a black teenager and six of his friends were influenced by "racist stereotyping and cultural ignorance", a court has been told.

Ade Adedeji was jailed, alongside the other teenagers, for conspiracy to commit serious harm following the murder of one of their friends in the Moston area of Manchester.

But, lawyers for the teens say the trial featured institutional racism, which "dangerously stereotyped" the defendants because they were black, liked drill music and lived the violent M40 gang - which it was claimed they were members despite no evidence.

They are now appealing to High Court judges for leave to appeal the convictions.

Ade had been head boy at his school and had secured a place at the University of Birmingham to study law. Credit: Taiwo Adedeji

Barristers say the original prosecution was wrong to claim the teenagers were part of a violent gang who were seeking revenge.

Instead the court heard Ade, who is serving an eight-year sentence, was an exceptional young man who was a head boy at his school, had spoken in parliament about his aspirations and was about to go to university.

Despite what his barrister described as his unsafe conviction, he also still has faith in the law, the judges were told.

Alexdander John Soyoye was murdered on the streets of Moston on 5 November 2020.

Ade was convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm after the murder of his childhood friend, 16-year-old John Soyoya in Moston in 2020.

The prosecution had argued his friends were part of a violent gang and were motivated by revenge.Ade was convicted along with seven others after joining a memorial group chat for John.

He sent 11 messages out of more than 300 within the chat - one of which was a postcode for the location of someone he believed was responsible for the murder. He left the chat shortly after.

Referring to the original trial lawyers for seven of those convicted argued a nine-second video with drill music and Ade seen wearing a blue bandana, which was shown to the original trial, was not sufficient proof to suggest he was part of a gang.

A picture was also shown to the jury in his trial of Ade holding cash to his ear, which the judge had suggested was evidence of drug dealing, despite no evidence to state that.

Families and supporters were in court when the judges were told a music executive described this as "breathtaking cultural ignorance".

He said the 'money phone' pose has nothing to do with gangs and was part of the hip hop scene.They will now have to wait for the judges written ruling on whether there are sufficient grounds to appeal their convictions.

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