Murdered boy's family 'take comfort that truth prevailed'

The mother of a 14-year-old boy stabbed to death on the Isle of Man has said her family takes comfort from the fact the "truth has prevailed" after a teenager was convicted of his murder.

Christopher McBurnie died after being attacked with a kitchen knife in Ramsey on 29 May last year during a pre-arranged fight. The pair had argued and challenged each other on social media.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, was found guilty of murder on Friday following a four-week trial at Douglas Courthouse. Jurors rejected his claim that he had acted in self-defence.

In a post on the Christopher's Legacy Facebook page, Rebecca Parker said it had been the "most terrifying, emotional and heartbreaking time" and that the family would spend the rest of their lives "missing him, loving him and fighting for his legacy".

She wrote: "Although we now have the verdict, there is still one thing our hearts are desperately waiting for - to have our boy walk through that door again.

"No verdict can bring Christopher back, and nothing ever will."

She thanked Christopher's friends and those that had supported the family, adding: "We have felt your love, even on the darkest days."

Reflecting on the trial, she said: "Throughout this devastating journey, Christopher has been spoken about terribly.

"Our family has received vicious and hurtful messages from private accounts at a time when we were already living through every parent's worst nightmare.

"It has been painful beyond words," Rebecca wrote.

"We can take some comfort in knowing that the evidence has been heard, the process has taken place, and the truth has prevailed.

"Christopher was our son, our brother, our family and our world. He was so much more than the things people chose to say about him.

"He was loved, he mattered, and his life will always mean something.

"Forever 14. Forever loved. Forever our Christopher."

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.