School’s outpouring of grief following death of ‘dear friend’

MANCHESTER Grammar School held a two-minute silence yesterday in memory of stabbing victim Yousef Makki.

High master Dr Martin Boulton told how there had been an ‘outpouring of grief’ following Yousef’s ‘senseless’ death.

Dr Boulton said: “It is impossible to make sense of such a senseless act, which has taken away a proud family’s son, a dear friend and a young man of such promise.

“There has been an outpouring of grief at school at this tragic loss. The thoughts of the whole school community are with Yousef’s family.

“At this time, we would ask that the privacy of his family and friends is respected, while we all mourn and seek to come to terms with what has happened.” Yousef, from Burnage, was studying four A-Levels and had aspirations of a career in medicine.

In a statement, the school added: “Manchester Grammar School is today mourning the tragic loss of one of its pupils.

“Yousef Makki was a dearly loved young man and incredibly bright pupil.”

The tributes came as dozens of bunches of flowers were laid at the school gates in Yousef’s memory.

Friends also hung pictures of the teenager on the railings.

A GoFundMe page set up by friends to help contribute to funeral costs has raised more than £13,000.

Writing on the page, Kathy Hughes, one of Yousef’s former primary school teachers, described him as a ‘bright, caring and considerate boy’. She added: “Such heart-breaking news. My thoughts are with his family.”

Yousef died after he was stabbed on Gorse Bank Drive, a residential street in Hale Barns.

Police were also searching a house on Carrwood, close to where Yousef died, in connection with the investigation.