Warren Leblanc

Background

Warren Leblanc, born in 1987 and aged 17, was described as a former friend of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah. The killing took place in February 2004 in Leicester, England.

Leicester Crown Court proceedings included Leblanc’s guilty plea to murder. Stefan Pakeerah’s mother, Giselle Pakeerah, said Leblanc had been “obsessed” with the video game Manhunt and claimed he mimicked a violent method shown in the game. It was also stated that Leblanc was not found to be in possession of the game, although a copy of Manhunt with an 18+ classification was found in Stefan’s room.

Leblanc’s place of residence was given as Braunstone Frith, Leicester.

The offence

Stefan Pakeerah was beaten and stabbed to death by Warren Leblanc after being lured to a Leicester park. Leblanc persuaded Stefan to go to nearby Stoke Woods Park, known locally as The Dumps, to meet two girls. Leblanc armed himself with a knife and claw hammer to carry out the attack.

Court details described horrific and fatal injuries. Stefan had been hit so hard with the hammer that he suffered deep cuts to his head and neck. His head had been fractured in several places. He had multiple stab wounds, and it was said the knife was plunged so deep that it caused serious injuries to his kidney and liver. During sentencing, the court was told that the victim was left with at least 50 separate injuries to his body.

Investigation

Police rejected any link between the violent computer game Manhunt and the murder. Police said the motive for the incident was robbery. Leicestershire police confirmed a copy of the game was found but said it was located in Stefan Pakeerah’s bedroom rather than in Warren Leblanc’s room.

A Leicestershire constabulary spokesperson said: “Police investigations did not uncover any connections to the computer game. ”The motive for the incident was robbery.” They added: “We can confirm the game was not found in Warren Leblanc's room, it was found in Stefan Pakeerah's room.”

Detectives investigating the murder rejected any link with the violent computer game, and police confirmed the motive as robbery.

Arrest

Leblanc confessed to the killing moments after the assault when he was found covered in blood by two police officers.

Trial

Warren Leblanc pleaded guilty to murder at Leicester Crown Court.

Stefan Pakeerah’s mother, Giselle Pakeerah, described Leblanc as “inherently evil” after he confessed moments after the assault.

Roderick Price QC, defending, said: “Leblanc had been motivated by fear of a gang to whom he owed a small amount of money.” He added that he said Leblanc had initially intended to overpower the young boy and use the hammer to stun him.

Sentencing

Judge Michael Stokes QC sentenced Leblanc to life in prison. During sentencing, Judge Stokes said: “You have committed a truly appalling crime. ”You have taken the life of a 14-year-old boy in a most brutal fashion. “I do not pretend to know or understand what prompted you to behave as you did. “One thing is clear; you and you alone were responsible for this prolonged, vicious and murderous attack on someone who thought of you as a friend.”

The sentencing judge placed sole responsibility with Leblanc in the summing up after sentencing him to a life sentence.

Judge Michael Stokes QC also said Leblanc had carried out “a brutal, cold-blooded murder” and could expect a life sentence.

At Leicester Crown Court on Friday, September 3, 2004, it was stated that Leblanc should serve a minimum of 13 years.

Appeals

No appeal information was included in the provided material.

Outcome

The murder of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah was committed by Warren Leblanc, and the court sentenced Leblanc to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years.

Aftermath

Stefan Pakeerah’s parents publicly blamed the video game Manhunt. It was described as having been withdrawn by some high street retailers following the court case.

Stefan Pakeerah’s mother Giselle Pakeerah said: “I heard some of Warren's friends say that he was obsessed by this game. ”To quote from the website that promotes it, it calls it a psychological experience, not a game, and it encourages brutal killing. ”If he was obsessed by it, it could well be that the boundaries for him became quite hazy.”

Giselle Pakeerah called for violent video games to be banned, and said: “I can't believe that this sort of material is allowed in a society where anarchy is not that far removed. ”It should not be available and it should not be available to young people.”

Stefan Pakeerah’s father, Patrick, said: “They were playing a game called Manhunt. ”The way Warren committed the murder is how the game is set out - killing people using weapons like hammers and knives. ”There is some connection between the game and what he has done.”

Outside court, Giselle Pakeerah said: “Warren Leblanc gave Stefan the game just two days before he killed him,” and “Leblanc is responsible for what Leblanc did and what he did was horrible.”

She added: “He liked violent films and games and particularly liked Manhunt. ”There are obvious similarities between the game and how Stefan died.”

An Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers’ Association spokesman rejected any suggestion of an association between the sale of Manhunt and the events of the case. The spokesman said: “We sympathise enormously with the family and parents of Stefan Pakeerah. ”However, we reject any suggestion or association between the tragic events and the sale of the video game Manhunt. ”The game in question is classified 18 by the British Board of Film Classification and therefore should not be in the possession of a juvenile. ”Simply being in someone's possession does not and should not lead to the conclusion that a game is responsible for these tragic events.”

The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers’ Association also wrote to Home Secretary David Blunkett about media coverage. The organisation said: “We have been very concerned recently about the misleading and disingenuous reporting about the effects of playing interactive games software,” and: “As you will know, despite many research projects into the effects of screen violence, some of which have been undertaken by eminent academics in their field, no link with violent behaviour has been found.” The organisation added: “Elspa said its members took their responsibilities extremely seriously and that they conformed with both the letter and spirit of the law and the strict Codes of Practice.”

In the wake of Leblanc’s guilty plea, several stores withdrew Manhunt from sale, while sales at HMV reportedly rose.