Boy handed 16 years for manslaughter

A 17-year-old boy has been sentenced for the manslaughter of teenager Dylan Holliday, who was fatally wounded in Wellingborough last year.

Following a four-week trial at Coventry Crown Court at the beginning of August, the jury convicted Jamal Chad Waddell, of manslaughter.

Despite him being aged 17, the Judge today (September 7) lifted the reporting restriction which had previously prevented his name from being published.

Dylan, aged 16, died in the underpass in Shelley Road, Wellingborough, on August 5, 2021.

The incident happened at 6.10pm when Dylan and two of his friends were approached by two other boys, resulting in Dylan being stabbed 13 times.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he died in hospital shortly afterwards.
A second 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found not guilty of killing Dylan.

During the attack, one of Dylan’s friends also received stab wounds resulting in both Waddell and the second 17-year-old defendant, being found guilty of a Section 20 Grievous Bodily Harm offence.

Yesterday (September 7) at Northampton Crown Court, Waddell was handed a sentence of 16 years with 12 being in custody and four on licence. The second 17-year-old boy convicted of Section 20 GBH was given a 12-month Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Senior Investigating Officer - Detective Superintendent Joe Banfield, said: “No sentence will bring Dylan Holliday back and I know today will bring little comfort to his family who still painfully feel his loss.

“Dylan’s death had a huge impact on the local community in Wellingborough and it is such a tragedy that a boy with his whole life ahead of him had it cut short in this way.

“Sadly, this case once again demonstrates the danger of knives and Northamptonshire Police will continue to work relentlessly to remove these deadly weapons from our streets.

“Whilst today has seen a young man sent to prison for this offence, there really are no winners in this case, and my thoughts will remain with Dylan’s family and friends who miss him immensely.”