Fans unite to honour fatally stabbed Leo Ross

Birmingham City supporters have laid a wreath at St. Andrew's stadium in honour of a 12-year-old schoolboy who was stabbed to death.

Leo Ross was believed to have been making his way home from school when he was stabbed in the stomach in Hall Green on 21 January.

Football fans came together to demand an end to knife crime on Saturday, with travelling Rotherham United supporters also paying their respects to the youngster.

Blues fans had been asked to "to remember Leo's memory", with a minute's applause planned in the 12th minute of the League One fixture.

Dozens of supporters were pictured letting off blue and white flares and balloons while holding a banner reading: "Say no to knife crime and yes to a safer future."

Birmingham City Official Supporters' Club said before the match: "We want to remember Leo's memory on the 12th minute against Rotherham.

"Leo was one of us. He was a Brummie but more importantly he was a loved one who was taken way to soon."

Birmingham City fan James Bowater, from Warwickshire, was attending the match with his children and nephew.

The teacher told the BBC he was "really concerned" about knife crime and worried for his children.

Gemma Briggs, another home supporter heading to the game, added she believed children needed to better educated about knife crime.

It comes after a mural was unveiled outside a house on Scribers Lane in Hall Green, near where Leo died.

Sue and Ruth Harris, who own the house, said they offered up their wall because they thought there needed to be a permanent memorial.

The 12-year-old was a pupil at Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood.

A 14-year-old boy is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 April to enter pleas to charges of murder, possessing a bladed article and four unconnected counts of assault.

In a tribute to Leo, his family described him as an "amazing, kind and loving boy".

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