RESPONSE TO GUILTY VERDICT IN HARVEY WILLGOOSE MURDER TRIAL

Published 8 August 2025 at 1:00pm

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “Today’s verdict brings some justice for Harvey, though it cannot undo the pain his family has suffered. He was a young boy with a bright future, and his death, especially in a school, has deeply affected our region.

“My thoughts, as always, remain with his family – particularly Caroline and Mark, whose strength, courage and dignity has been remarkable. South Yorkshire stands with them.

"Harvey was a young man full of potential, whose life has been lost to violence, while another young man now faces a future behind bars. It’s a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and of the urgent need to invest in prevention, education, and early support to protect young lives.

“While it was an isolated incident, its impact has been widespread. Knife crime is a national issue, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to keep young people safe in our schools and communities.

“Finally, I’d like to thank the police and legal teams for their work in bringing this case to a conclusion. Every case where lives are lost is tragic, but the circumstances in Harvey’s case are particularly harrowing and I thank them for their professionalism in securing today’s verdict.”