Darnell Donovan-Harris

2 offences

What the court heard

He was found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a prohibited firearm in Birmingham, West Midlands, on 26 August 2020. He was found not guilty of murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Sentencing remarks 1. Darnell Donovan-Harris on Tuesday 22 June 2021 you were convicted of a number of offences by the jury at Birmingham Crown Court. The most serious of these offences concerned the death of Nassir Francis on 26 August 2020. Mr Le, your co-accused, was convicted of the murder of Mr Francis. You were convicted of manslaughter in respect of your acts of encouragement and assistance of Mr Le in his killing of Mr Francis. 2. It now falls to me to sentence you for manslaughter, as well as a related firearms offence on which the jury found you guilty. I have received very helpful submissions from Defence and Prosecution Counsel and my attention has been drawn to the relevant provisions of the Sentencing Act 2020 (the 2020 Act) and material guidelines concerning the two offences. Mr Donovan Harris you were 22 at the time of the offences and are now aged 23. 3. Where I state factual findings, I am sure of those facts based on the evidence I heard at trial. 4. I have read the moving VPS submitted by Naasir Francis' mother and brother. He was a young man taken from a caring and loving family in the prime of his life. 5. I turn to the facts surrounding the offences committed on the day, 22 August 2020, that Mr Francis was killed. 6. On one side, Mr Le, Mr Donovan-Harris and Mr Tariq Francis and on the other side, Mr Francis and Mr Morgan, came together by accident near Bings cafe that day, at the junction of Wheeler Street and Lozells Road at around 12.30pm. There may have been some form of gang related dispute between your side and the Francis/Morgan side but I can make no safe findings on that matter based on the evidence I have heard and ignore that potential context in my sentencing. 7. However, the fact that there was a spontaneous outbreak of armed violence between to the 2 groups is clear on the footage. There can be no explanation of this unless there was some pre-existing dispute. 8. The murder of Mr Francis and the attempted murder of Mr Morgan was captured on clear CCTV footage. The graphic and distressing footage shows Mr Francis being shot at point blank range by Teeko Le using an automatic weapon, while Mr Francis was sitting defenceless in a Lexus car and seeking to leave the scene. This was an execution.…

Around this case

• Birmingham Crown Court
• Prosecuted by CPS West Midlands
• Investigated by West Midlands Police