A documentary into the killing of Yousef Makki, and the trial and inquest that followed, aired on Channel 4 last night – and viewers have been sharing their reactions.
17-year-old Manchester Grammar School pupil Yousef Makki was tragically stabbed to death in the heart by his friend Joshua Molnar with a flick knife – which a coroner said was purchased online with ease “during break time at school” – during a row they had in the affluent Hale Barns area of Trafford on the evening of 2 March 2019.
Makki was from a single-parent Anglo-Lebanese family from Burnage, and had won a bursary to attend Manchester Grammar School.
Molnar, who is from a wealthy family in Hale, later admitted stabbing Makki.
The then 17-year-old Molnar claimed self-defence and was cleared by a jury at Manchester Crown Court of murder and manslaughter, with the coroner’s narrative conclusion also ruling out both unlawful killing and accidental death.
He was jailed for 16 months for the possession of a knife in a public place and perverting the course of justice by lying to police at the scene.
At the end of the inquest, the coroner said that there was “nothing impressive about the possession of a knife”, and that “work needs to be done in relation to the education of young people on the risks that can arise and on the all too tragic consequences of the possession of a knife.”
Yousef Makki, 17, was stabbed to death in Hale Barns on 2 March 2019 / Credit: Greater Manchester Police
Now, a new documentary has taken a closer look at harrowing events as they unfolded.
The 90-minute documentary, Killed by a Rich Kid, aired on Channel 4 last night and followed the Makki family throughout as they search for answers and pursue the inquest.
Not only did the documentary aim to take a “forensic look at the killing and subsequent trial” of Molnar, but it also featured recordings of 999 calls, CCTV and crime scene photos, interviews with witnesses from the scene, friends, family, journalists, the police and Crown Prosecution Service, and most-notably, showed never-before-seen or released police bodycam footage of Molnar right after the stabbing occurred.
The documentary also featured powerful testimony from those closest to Makki, as well as key people involved in the criminal trial, all with the aim of piecing together the evidence presented by those who sought justice.
Following the airing of the documentary, viewers have taken to social media in droves to share their reactions, support the Makki family, express feelings of anger, sadness, and despair towards the system, and crucially point-out and question injustices in relation to race, class, wealth, and other subjects touched upon throughout the programme.
#KilledByARIchkid absolutely devastating poor poor mother and whole family and I have such admiration for Yousefs 2 real friends that gave evidence and are helping his family such strong young men.. What a case this awful 💔😭
One viewer wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely devastating, poor poor mother and whole family, and I have such admiration for Yousef’s 2 real friends that gave evidence and are helping his family such strong young men – what an awful case.”
“Another case that is a huge miscarriage of justice. If Josh Molnar was Black, Asian, working class etc, he would still be in prison for murder. Luckily for him, he’s white and rich. F***ed up system. An absolute disgrace,” another angered viewer wrote.
“I hate this country. I hate the people who run it. I hate the fact that money can cover up evil,” a third wrote.
Another viewer urged parents with teenage children to “sit down and watch this”.
Vile seeing the murderer lying to the police knowing that he was the person that stabbed Yousef. If you’ve got teenage children, please sit down and watch this documentary with them. Knives aren’t toys. Justice for Yousef Makki #KilledByARichKid#yousefmakki
Another viewer shared their rage on Twitter: “The nerve of the police to tell her to drop the case because she can’t afford to give her son the justice he deserves. The justice that was taken away from her. What a f***ed up system! That was her baby.”
“Unbelievable that Joshua Molnar was found not guilty. There’s so many flaws and so many things that went unchallenged,” another added.
“Unbelievable the whole thing,” they concluded.
Shining a light on the injustices, another viewer tweeted: “Let’s be totally blunt here. If the roles had been reversed here there is no way those not guilty verdicts would have been given. Wealth, privilege and race are what gets you justice.”
The lies🙉 unbelievable that Joshua Molnar was found not guilty. There’s so many flaws and so many things that went unchallenged. Unbelievable the whole thing #killedbyarichkid
Let's be totally blunt here. If the roles had been reversed here there is no way those not guilty verdicts would have been given. Wealth, privilege and race are what gets you justice.#killedbyarichkid
Killed by a Rich Kid was produced for Channel 4 by Blakeway North, and was directed by Tom Reeves – who followed members of Makki’s family for months as they tried to come to terms with the teenager’s tragic eath, and campaign for further legal proceedings in order to find out how he died.
Speaking on the importance of the documentary, director Tom Reeves said: “Yousef’s tragic death has resonated with me ever since I first heard about it. Having grown up and spent my life not far from where his family live, I couldn’t help but feel connected to this tragic story.
“Yousef’s case raises uncomfortable questions about society and the justice system and his family have been left deeply affected by their experiences of this.
“Whilst filming with them, I have been struck by their determination in refusing to accept that justice was served in this case and their courage in campaigning to keep Yousef’s name alive.”
You can watch a replay of Killed by a Rich Kid on the Channel 4 website here.
Featured Image – Channel 4
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Pep Guardiola hints at when Manchester City fans can expect to see their latest arrival
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd March 2022 
