'Life will never be the same' - Mum of Gordon Gault pays tribute to him as his killers are convicted

The mum of a 14-year-old boy has expressed that "she will never get over his death" as his killers were found guilty of manslaughter.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, January 15, found Carlos Neto, 18, and Lawson Natty, 18, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter in relation to the death of Gordon Gault.

On the evening of November 9, 2022, emergency services were called to the Elswick area of Newcastle following a report of an assault.

When they arrived, they found Gordon with a single stab would to his upper right arm.

He was taken to hospital for treatment but sadly died six days later.

Northumbria Police launched inquiries into the incident and following a complex investigation, six males, now aged between 16 and 18, were all charged with murder.

All six were also charged with wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm in relation to a second victim, who suffered an injury to his back - they all denied the charges against them.

Officers also recovered a number of weapons as part of their investigation into the incident.

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury heard that Gordon was fatally wounded after an escalating dispute culminated in violence.

At the age of 14, Gordon was the youngest person present.

Neto, of Manchester Road East in Little Hulton, admitted to injuring Gordon but claimed that it was in self-defence.

It was also revealed during the trial that Natty, of Eastgarth in Newcastle, supplied Neto with the machete that was used in the attack.

Along with being convicted of manslaughter, both were also found guilty of unlawful wounding in relation to the second victim.

Both men have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

The four other teenagers, one aged 16, one aged 17 and two aged 18, were found not guilty of all charges.

Following the conclusion of the trial, Gordon’s heartbroken mum, Dionne Barrett, paid tribute to her teenage son.

She said: “We as a family will never get over Gordon’s death.

“To those who didn’t know Gordon he was a practical joker, always laughing and had a heart of gold.

“He cared for his family and friends so much. He was a big softy and loved his dog, Bruno.

“He was such a happy, loving young son who lit up the room with his energy.

“Life will simply never be the same without him.

“It breaks my heart that I will never get to hear him say ‘I love you Mam’ again. I am hugely grateful for the support and kind wishes since Gordon passed away.

"It is heartening to know that he has touched so many lives and his memory will live on."

Dionne has also urged other young people to "think twice" over carrying a knife in the hope of avoiding more incidents like this.

She added: “I want youngsters to understand the huge dangers of carrying knives.

“By carrying knives, you could not only ruin your life but that of your family and friends as well. 

“In a split-second you could end someone’s life and destroy your own.

“Please, please think twice about getting involved in this kind of behaviour.

“I’d also like to thank the investigation team from Northumbria Police and the Prosecution Barristers.”

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Detective Chief Inspector Matt Steel, of Northumbria Police, has stated that the Force is committed to tackling knife crime and is working alongside its partners to do so.

He commented: “This is an extremely tragic case in which a teenager, with his life ahead of him, had his future taken away.

“Our thoughts very much remain with Gordon’s loved ones, who have been left devastated by their loss. We will continue to support them at this extremely difficult time.

“Those convicted had a choice – they chose violence. Their lives and those of the people who care about them have also been changed by the decisions they made.

“That should act as a lesson to anyone who goes out with a weapon, involves themselves in violence or encourages other to do so.

“As a Force, we are committed to working with our partners to reduce the impact of knife crime.

“But this is not an issue policing can tackle alone – as a society we must all come together to prevent violence.

“This includes continuing to educate young people and talking about the pain and suffering caused by knife crime.

“Our message to anyone who does pick up a weapon or involves themselves in violence is simple – think again.

“Make that choice today for yourself, your family, your friends and your community.”