The name of the teenager who murdered 12-year-old Leo Ross in Birmingham has been revealed as Kian Moulton, following the lifting of a court order that had protected his identity. The decision, handed down by Birmingham Crown Court on February 10, 2026, comes a little over a year after the shocking events that tore apart a once close-knit community and left a family grappling with unimaginable loss.
Kian Moulton, who was 14 at the time of the attack, stabbed Leo Ross in the stomach as the boy walked home through Trittiford Mill Park in Hall Green on January 21, 2025. The attack, described by Detective Inspector Joe Davenport as "a tragic and random act of violence which killed an innocent young boy," sent shockwaves through Birmingham and beyond, sparking renewed debate over knife crime and youth violence in the UK.
During his sentencing, Moulton—now 15—was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years before he can be considered for parole. He will remain on licence for the rest of his life. According to BBC, Moulton pleaded guilty to murder last month, as well as a string of other offences committed in the days leading up to Leo’s death. These included two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, all against elderly women in the same area. Two of these women suffered severe injuries, with one 82-year-old victim enduring a fractured rib, broken nose, and multiple bruises after Moulton pushed her into a river and struck her with her own walking pole. Another 72-year-old woman was left bleeding profusely from a head wound and required hip replacement surgery.
On the day of Leo’s murder, CCTV footage captured Moulton riding his bicycle around Trittiford Mill Park. After stabbing Leo, Moulton cycled around the park telling people a boy had been stabbed, returned to the scene to watch the aftermath, and even spoke with police officers—behavior that was later described by Mr Justice Choudhury KC as evidence of him deriving "pleasure from seeing the consequences" of his actions. The judge further noted that Moulton deliberately targeted Leo because he was smaller and more vulnerable, calling his actions "cowardly" and highlighting a pattern of "sophisticated, devious and callous thinking designed to throw people off your trail or to extract additional amusement from what you had done." (BirminghamLive)
Police later recovered the knife used in the attack, which Moulton had attempted to discard in a river. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of DNA from both Moulton and Leo on the blade. In a chilling development, a note discovered in Moulton’s custodial room in July 2025 read: "I’m not going to lie. I will hold my hands up and say that I done it. I stabbed him. Lower right stomach." (BirminghamLive)
The impact on the local community has been profound. Neighbors who once socialized together on summer evenings now avoid each other, with one former family friend recalling years of police visits to Moulton’s home and repeated incidents of him running away and going missing. Another resident, who had known Moulton as a child, described him as once a "kind and nice kid" who would bring her food and drinks, but admitted that his behavior had deteriorated as he grew older.
During the sentencing hearing, Moulton showed little emotion, mostly keeping his head bowed. The only exception came when Leo’s father, Christopher Ross, addressed him directly as he began reading his victim impact statement, saying, "look up man, you killed my son." Amy Weston, from Leo’s foster family, told the defendant: "Leo was a small defenceless child, as vulnerable as they come. What you did was wicked, senseless and unforgivable." Leo’s biological mother, Rachel Fisher, condemned the 13-year minimum term as "a complete and utter joke," warning outside the court that similar tragedies would continue "until something’s done about it."
Tim Boyes, acting headteacher at Leo’s school, Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy, remembered Leo as "a quirky, lovable, bright, unusual little boy" with a passion for fossils and a naivety uncommon for his age. "For a 12-year-old, he was quite young and he had a naivety and simplicity," Boyes told BBC. "Unlike many boys his age who were into football, Leo was passionate about fossils."
Detective Inspector Joe Davenport emphasized the randomness of the attack, stating there was no indication Leo and his killer knew each other. "We will likely never know why he decided to attack Leo, who was completely innocent. From our investigation, it seemed he liked to cause violence before calling the police and watching the chaos he had caused." Davenport called Moulton a "truly dangerous individual" with a "need to carry out acts of violence."
The decision to lift reporting restrictions on Moulton’s identity followed applications by Birmingham Live, Daily Mail, the BBC, and other media organizations. Mr Justice Choudhury ruled that strong public interest—particularly around escalating knife crime and the pattern of Moulton’s offending against vulnerable people—outweighed arguments for continued anonymity. He noted that Moulton had shown no clear remorse or positive signs of rehabilitation, a point echoed by defense barrister Alistair Webster KC, who described Moulton’s progress as "one step forwards and two steps back." Prosecution counsel Rachel Brand KC told the court the Crown was "neutral" on the issue of lifting reporting restrictions.
Birmingham Children’s Trust, which had sought a temporary extension to protect Moulton’s identity, ultimately decided not to pursue a judicial review. Instead, the trust will participate in a local child safeguarding practice review alongside other agencies to identify any lessons that can be learned from the case.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office has received multiple requests to review the sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, which allows any member of the public to refer a case they believe is too lenient. A spokesperson confirmed those requests would be "carefully considered."
In a statement released after the sentencing, Leo’s family said: "No sentence can ever undo or compensate the loss of Leo nor return him to us. Our family will live with this pain forever. Leo was taken from us for no reason in a senseless and unprovoked act of violence. He was deeply loved and should still be here, laughing, living, and sharing life with us. We miss him every day, our world has been torn apart and his absence has left a permanent void in our family, one that can never be filled. While we acknowledge the court’s decision today, it marks neither closure nor healing. It is simply another step in a journey of grief that began the day we lost Leo. Our focus remains on remembering who Leo was, not how he was taken from us. Leo’s life mattered. His kindness, his laughter, and his love will always be part of who we are. Though he is no longer physically with us, he will live on in our memories, in the stories we share, and in the love we carry for him every day. We will miss him always. He will never be forgotten, and he will forever be loved." (ITV News)
As Birmingham begins to reckon with the aftermath of this tragedy, the story of Leo Ross and the actions of Kian Moulton remain a stark reminder of the challenges communities face in confronting youth violence and the devastating consequences it can bring.