Teenager who stabbed boy, 17, he'd never met faces life in jail after being found guilty of murder

A teenager who fatally stabbed another boy he had never met before at a party in the grounds of a £1.5m country mansion faces life in jail.

The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces the mandatory life sentence following a unanimous verdict in Brighton.

Charlie Cosser was fatally stabbed at the end-of-term summer party after asking his killer to leave.

The trial happened after a judge allowed him to change his plea. Three days after life support for Charlie was removed on July 25 last year, his killer pleaded guilty to murder. At a hearing in November the guilty plea was vacated.

Members of the Cosser family punched the air, hugged each other and wept as the guilty verdict was delivered. The defendant showed no emotion as the verdicts were read out.

After the verdict, Charlie's dad, Martin Cosser said: 'Thank God. We were all hoping for it but you've got to hear them say it.'

Charlie Cosser (pictured) died aged 17 after being stabbed to death at a summer party in West Sussex last year

Speaking about the earlier guilty plea, Martin said: 'He didn't flinch and I just wish we didn't have to go through this and he had stuck to his guns.'

Charlie's mother Tara, fighting back tears, said: 'I'm still going home tonight and he's not there. This has been a long time coming but it's the right result.'

Charlie's grandfather, Steve Cosser, said: 'He was such a lovely young man and we've been robbed of his future now. We were only just getting to know what kind of boy he would have been. It should never have happened.

'The police always said he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Since October last year we've been living with the fear something could go wrong. Hopefully, now the family can start to move on now.'

The Crown Court in Brighton heard Charlie was stabbed in an eruption of violence on the dance floor.

His killer threw the first punch in a mass brawl when he was asked to leave a second time after another female guest complained she was being sexually harassed by him.

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Teenager accused of stabbing Charlie Cosser, 17, to death at end-of-term party on grounds of £1.5m farmhouse told a friend to 'get the shank' earlier in the night, court hears

Charlie's family, who have set up a knife crime charity in his name, gathered outside court after the verdict.

The court heard the defendant burned the clothes he was wearing after being driven away from the party by an adult.

He was contacted by police the next day as he ate at a local carvery restaurant with his mother.

His parents, who had been in court throughout the trial, were not in court to hear the verdict.

Charlie Cosser was only 17 when his life support was switched off three days after the party.

Alan Gardner KC for the Crown said mobile phone video caught the moment Charlie, known as Cheeks, was fatally wounded. His family sobbed as the graphic footage was shown in court.

Video dated as taken at 2359 on July 22 last year, shows the moment he was stabbed three times in the chest.

The defendant or one of his friends brought the knife to the party, Mr Gardner said.

The court heard one party goer said the defendant called out 'Get the shank,' moments before Charlie Cosser was fatally wounded.

Mr Gardner told the court another witness later heard the defendant say; 'I've stabbed someone,' six or seven times.

He was only 16-years-old when he attended the end-of-term party at the £1.5 Balmohano Farmhouse at Warnham in rural Sussex.

The jury in Brighton heard there were at least 100 people at the party hosted by the Balfour triplets to celebrate the end of term.

The party goers crowded under a marquee in the grounds of the farmhouse near Horsham as summer rain lashed down.

The incident happened at party in the grounds of a £1.5million farmhouse (pictured)

Trouble started when a girl at the party complained about the defendant and said he had tried to touch her up, Mr Gardner said.

The girl said the defendant was 'creeping her out'.

'Two separate fights erupted on the dance floor,' Mr Gardner said.

'In the darkness and noise of a crowded dance floor his use of the knife and the knife blows went unnoticed,' Mr Gardner said.

Charlie was able to leave the tent before collapsing on the grass.

Charlie's father clutched his head and wiped tears from his eyes as the jury heard details of his last moments of consciousness.

'At around midnight another party guest was stood on the DJ's stage when he noticed a boy he knew to be Charlie Cosser lying on the grass.

'It looked like he was in discomfort.

'He was holding his arms across his body as if he had stomach ache, and was wriggling around,' Mr Gardner said.

The court heard the defendant had blood on his hands and clothes.

Charlie, known as Cheeks, Cosser was described as caring and loving by his devastated parents.

The 17-year-old, from Milford in Surrey, died in hospital on Tuesday, July 25, last year.

In a statement from his family, dad Martin, mum Tara, older brother Adam and younger sister Eloise paid tribute to him.

'Our lives have been destroyed by the tragic and unnecessary loss of our son.

'Despite courageously battling right till the very end of his young and innocent life, his injuries were too severe and he tragically passed away on the evening of Tuesday 25 July.

'He was the most caring, cheeky, loving son and brother we could have ever wished for, and we cannot imagine a life without him.

'Charlie's wider family are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden loss.

'Tributes have been pouring in from Charlie's wide circle of friends which we would like to acknowledge have brought us huge comfort in our darkest hours.

'We would also like to thank on our and Charlie's behalf, all of the efforts of the emergency services who treated him on the scene, as well as the whole of the critical care team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, who did absolutely everything they could to save our precious boy, with the upmost compassion, empathy, sympathy and care.

'His ridiculously silly sense of humour will be deeply missed by everyone that knew and loved him.'