Sukhbir Singh Phull, 18, has been jailed for life for murdering 16-year-old Aston Villa youth player Ramani Morgan at a house party in Coventry. A judge at Warwick Crown Court sentenced Phull on Saturday, 7 November, and ordered him to serve a minimum of 17 years before he can be considered for parole.

Phull, of Binley Road, Coventry, was found guilty of murder following a trial at the same court last month. A 17-year-old boy who stood trial alongside him was cleared of murder by the jury.

What happened at the party

The court heard that the two teenagers clashed at a house party in Coventry after Phull made advances towards Ramani's girlfriend. The pair were at the party in Chandos Street, in the Stoke area of the city, when the argument turned violent.

Phull dragged Ramani out of the party and attacked him with a knife after his advances to Ramani's girlfriend were rebuffed, leaving him humiliated and angry, the court heard. He stabbed Ramani a number of times, with one of the wounds piercing the youngster's heart.

Ramani was rushed to hospital with multiple stab wounds. An air ambulance doctor briefly managed to revive him at the scene, but he could not be saved and was pronounced dead just before midnight.

The trial

At the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Michael Burrows told the court that Phull, who had no previous convictions, had taken a knife to the scene and was armed with it beforehand. He produced the weapon during the altercation in the street, in a residential area, at night.

Phull and the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went on trial accused of murder at Warwick Crown Court. The jury convicted Phull and cleared his co-defendant.

A promising young footballer

Ramani, who played for the youth teams of Aston Villa and Walsall, was 16 when he died. His death at a house party in his home city prompted tributes from the football community, and the case has renewed attention on knife crime among young people in the West Midlands.

The life sentence means Phull will remain in prison until the Parole Board decides he is safe to release, and he cannot apply for parole until he has served at least 17 years.

Frequently asked questions

What sentence did Sukhbir Singh Phull receive? Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years, passed at Warwick Crown Court on 7 November 2026.

Who was Ramani Morgan? A 16-year-old footballer who played for the youth teams of Aston Villa and Walsall. He was stabbed at a house party in Coventry and died in hospital the same night.

Was anyone else charged? A 17-year-old boy stood trial alongside Phull accused of murder. The jury cleared him of the charge.