'How bad have things become?' Judge's shock as Alfie Lewis murderer named and pictured for first time

The teenager who murdered Alfie Lewis in a senseless attack has been named and pictured for the first time.

Bardia Shojaeifard, 15, was protected by a section 45 reporting restriction, prohibiting his identity being publicised due to his age, but in a ruling on Friday morning, The Honourable Mr Justice Cotter lifted the order following an application by LeedsLive and PA.

A jury found Shojaeifard guilty of Alfie's murder in May following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Read more: LIVE: Alfie Lewis' teenager murderer set to discover fate - court sentencing updates.

Alfie died after being stabbed outside St Margaret's Church of England Primary School in the Horsforth area of Leeds, just before 3pm, on November 7 last year. Opening the case last month, prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said witnesses saw the defendant stab Alfie, who was going to meet friends at the time.

Mr Hassall said: "Alfie did not get as far as meeting any of his friends that day. He was approached by [the teenager] and stabbed twice, once in the chest and once in the leg. He collapsed close to the primary school in full view of scores of pupils leaving school and people waiting to collect them."

In his ruling before he proceeded to sentence, the judge cited LeedsLive and YorkshireLive's anti-knife crime campaign Bin the Knife, Save a Life, as one of the reasons he was going to lift the reporting restriction. The campaign was mentioned in the letter to the judge submitted by West Yorkshire Court Reporter Sophie Corcoran.

The judge said: "The crime he committed was extraordinary...Alfie Lewis was attacked as he tried to calm Shojaeifard. The shocking assault was witnessed by a large amount of people. I have no doubt it sent shock waves across the local community but more widely. Put simply, many must have been and still asking the question how it comes to pass a young man such as this carries and uses a knife in these circumstances and how the scourge of knife crime permeates or youth until more is done about it...

"How bad have things become?

"I have carefully, cautiously and anxiously balanced the interests of the public in full reporting of criminal proceedings against desirability of not causing harm to him, bear in mind he is now 15...My conclusion is that the order should be lifted.

"As Ms Corcoran submits, there are local campaigns including Bin the Knife, Save a life. Reporting will heighten public awareness. I have no doubt the full reporting of this case will highlight the debate of the scourge of knife crime. There is also the valuable deterrent effect of naming the defendant will have on others carrying knives in public places.

"It is of some significance he will face publicising of his name in the future in any event as when he is 18 the reporting restriction will no longer apply and he will be in custody still at that time."

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