A 17-year-old boy, Mali Bennett-Smith, has admitted to the murder of his older sister, Luka Bennett-Smith, in a shocking incident that unfolded on October 20, 2022, in the St Andrews area of Bristol. The boy confessed to the crime after calling emergency services 20 minutes post-incident and revealing to the police that he had stabbed his 19-year-old sister to death. The gravity of the situation led to Mali pleading guilty at Bristol Crown Court, where he was subsequently sentenced to a minimum detention term of 10 years and 5 months.
The court proceedings shed light on Mali's background, which included an "unconventional upbringing". He was home-schooled and possessed an IQ above average, yet struggled with processing speed due to severe dyslexia and dysgraphia. These challenges reportedly caused him to retreat into a world of video gaming, often disassociating from reality. Mali's sister, Luka, had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adding another layer of complexity to their family dynamics.
Mali's account of the events reveals a deep-seated animosity towards his sister.
“I hated her my whole life and I don’t know, I just didn’t want to ever see her again.” – Mali Bennett-Smith
He described a pattern of sibling rivalry that escalated into tragedy when he asked Luka if he could practice a headlock on her—a routine they had engaged in before.
“After watching a video, I went downstairs to the lounge and I asked Luka if I could practise a headlock on her. She agreed, we have done this before and when she needed me to stop we had an agreement where she would tap me on the arm.” – Mali Bennett-Smith
On this fateful occasion, Mali admitted he had no intention of stopping.
“On this occasion I had decided I was not going to stop, I wanted to kill her, I had enough with regards [how] she had been treating me over the years and recently.” – Mali Bennett-Smith
Ray Tully KC, representing the defense, highlighted Mali's struggle with managing his emotions towards his sister.
“Mali did not know how to manage his increasing feelings of frustration and resentment towards Luka,” – Ray Tully KC
The judge presiding over the case characterized the killing as "shocking and brutal," underscoring the gravity of the crime. The courtroom heard how Mali felt bullied by Luka and perceived her as "annoying," a perception that culminated in violence when he continued to hold her in a headlock and stabbed her repeatedly.
The tragic nature of this case has left a profound impact on the community, as details of Mali’s mental health challenges and family dynamics emerged during the trial. The sentence reflects both the severity of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it, offering a measure of justice for Luka while acknowledging the complexities that shaped their lives.