A Bristol court finds three teenagers guilty in a heart-wrenching case of violence at a house party

In a verdict that has gripped the city of Bristol and beyond, three teenagers have been found guilty in the tragic death of 16-year-old Mikey Roynon, who was fatally stabbed with a large zombie knife at a house party in Bath on June 10, 2023. The incident, which occurred during a confrontation at a 16th birthday celebration, has resulted in one teen being convicted of murder and two others of manslaughter.

Mikey Roynon, hailing from Kingswood, Bristol, succumbed to a fatal stab wound to the back of the neck, an event that has left his family and the community in profound grief. The court proceedings, which lasted for six weeks at Bristol Crown Court, unfolded the harrowing details of that fateful night, where approximately 50 guests witnessed the horrifying act in the garden of a house on Eastfield Avenue.

The jury was presented with CCTV footage that captured the defendants travelling to the party from Wiltshire. Disturbingly, the footage revealed what appeared to be sharp objects concealed under their clothing, suggesting they were armed upon arrival. Witnesses at the party described a chilling scene where nearly a dozen boys brandished weapons likened to “swords and zombie knives.”

The boy found guilty of murder admitted to stabbing Mikey but claimed self-defence. However, this defence was evidently rejected by the jury. The sentencing for the three convicted teens is scheduled for May 3, a date anxiously awaited by Mikey’s grieving family.

Outside the court, Hayley Ryall, Mikey’s mother, expressed a mix of relief and enduring sorrow. “They got what they deserved, it’s really good. This makes a difference because we have all suffered,” she said. Despite the verdict bringing some measure of justice, Ryall poignantly noted, “It’s never going to bring him back… he has still been taken from us but it is a little bit of justice for our boy.”

Mikey, remembered by his mother as “lively, lots of fun, and completely fearless with a massive heart of gold,” leaves behind a void that cannot be filled. His tragic demise underscores the dire consequences of youth violence and the devastating impact of carrying and using weapons.

The judge, Mr. Justice Saini, commended Mikey’s family and the jurors for their dignity and respect throughout the trial. Det Insp Mark Newbury of Avon and Somerset Police condemned the attackers’ decision to arm themselves for a teenage birthday party as “utterly unconscionable,” lamenting the senseless loss of a young life to such brutal violence.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, the case of Mikey Roynon serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the culture of violence among youth and the proliferation of dangerous weapons.