Channel 4 has commissioned a documentary about the death of Yousef Makki, the 17-year-old stabbed to death in Hale Barns.
The Killing of Yousef Makki (working title) will feature powerful testimony from those closest to the former Manchester Grammar School pupil, who was stabbed in the heart by one of his friends on Gorse Bank Lane in March 2019.
Director Tom Reeves has followed members of Yousef’s family for months as they try to come to terms with Yousef’s death, and campaign for further legal proceedings in order to find out how he died.
It will be made by Manchester-based production company Blakeway North.
Reeves said: “Having grown up and spent my life not far from where his family live, I couldn’t help but feel connected to this tragic story. Yousef’s case raises uncomfortable questions about society and the justice system and his family have been left deeply affected by their experiences of this.
“Whilst filming with them, I have been struck by their determination in refusing to accept that justice was served in this case and their courage in campaigning to keep Yousef’s name alive.”
Yousef’s sister, Jade Akoum, added: “We have given Channel 4 exclusive access to our family over the past year to follow events since the loss of Yousef at a time of immense heart ache for us all.
“We look forward to the public seeing how hard we have fought to find out what happened to Yousef the night he died and to show what he was really like. Viewers will see the unbearable impact knife crime has on the families of victims, we are totally broken without Yousef, and hope this will make just one person think twice before carrying a knife.”
