In his letter, which Webster says indicates a "lack of literacy", Zulkernain Ahmed says: "I am sorry from the bottom of my heart.

"I regret the actions I took that day, I wish time to turn back. I would change so many things.

"I am sorry to Abdullah's family, every day I pray for them for things to get better for them. I cry every night knowing it was me. I wish I could make things better."

Ahmed goes on to say that he has learnt CPR and chest compressions since being in prison in the hope he can "make a difference" in future.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Webster says the brains of males do not mature until their mid-20s, and highlights that his client was 20 when he committed the offence.

Zulkernain Ahmed's "underlying mental conditions will affect his ability to make decisions at the time of this offending", he adds.

Webster says his client is "remorseful about the result of his actions" and has written a letter to the court to express his apologies.

In mitigation for Zulkernain Ahmed, Webster tells the court: "Nobody who witnessed the death of Abdullah Taleb, whether at the scene or as we all did in court via CCTV, could fail to be deeply affected at the core by the sheer senselessness of that death.

"A young boy, walking along the pavement carefree, dead within seconds through no fault of his own."

He goes on to say that nothing he can say in defence of his client can atone for the loss suffered by Abdullah's family.

The judge has retaken her seat with Zulkernain Ahmed's barrister Alistair Webster continuing his address to the court.

The judge Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples rises to read over a psychiatrist's report relating to Zulkernain Ahmed.

The hearing will resume at 11:30 BST.

Zulkernain Ahmed's barrister Alistair Webster KC is now addressing Sheffield Crown Court.

He says his client's mental state "had an effect on his offending".

"It doesn't wholly explain, but it is a significant contributing factor."

The court was previously told Ahmed, now 21, had learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.

MacDonald says weapons were taken into the car prior to the defendants beginning their search for La'Rome Divers, which "indicates violence was premeditated".

The resulting offending was "witnessed by a number of people", he adds.

Zulkernain Ahmed was also found guilty of two counts of GBH with intent following the trial earlier this year.

The court hears La'Rome Divers was knocked over a hedge, suffering three fractures and a liver laceration which required surgery.

MacDonald tells Sheffield Crown Court La'Rome Divers was the intended target for Zulkernain Ahmed.

He says the defendant's Audi was "driven for a number of miles specifically in order to look for La'Rome Divers with a view to striking La'Rome Divers by using the vehicle as a weapon".

"This was a revenge attack based on La'Rome Divers' attempts to steal an e-bike."

During the trial jurors were told Divers was knocked over a hedge but refused to make a statement to police.

Brothers Zulkernain and Armaan Ahmed are sitting in the dock, flanked by custody officers, listening to the submissions of prosecutor Alistair MacDonald. Neither man is displaying any outward emotion.

MacDonald says Zulkernain was 20 when he murdered Abdullah, exactly one year ago today.

The prosecutor is now discussing the guidelines for sentencing.

Image source, Mark Ansell/BBC

Abdullah was "both my son and my friend", his father says, adding: "His death was a devastating blow to all of the family members."

The loss has "destroyed the entire family", he adds.

"We are unable to return to our normal lives and I don't think we ever will."

He says Abdullah was "excited" as he prepared to start college in September 2025.

Alistair MacDonald KC begins by reading a victim impact statement from Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Taleb's father Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi.

"Life in Yemen was almost impossible [...] I travelled to England in search of safety and a better life," he says.

"He was an optimistic person who loved life and loved people. He was eager to learn and integrated into the community. He was happy to arrive in a safe country."

During the trial at Sheffield Crown Court, jurors heard how Zulkernain Ahmed used the Audi he was driving as a "weapon", driving on the wrong side of the road as he initially targeted one of the riders before hitting Abdullah.

Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Taleb had been walking along the pavement when he was struck by an Audi which had mounted the kerb. The car was being driven by Zulkernain Ahmed, who is said to have been targeting a group of three riders in Staniforth Road over a dispute related to e-bikes.

Abdullah was "in the wrong place at the wrong time", according to prosecutors.

Good morning. We will be bringing you updates from the sentencing hearing for brothers Zulkernain Ahmed, 21, and Armaan Ahmed, 27, over the killing of 16-year-old Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Taleb.

Abdullah had recently arrived in England from Yemen when he was killed by a car being driven by Zulkernain in the Darnall area of Sheffield on 4 June 2025.

Zulkernain was found guilty of murder in February following a trial, while Armaan, who was a passenger in the car, was found guilty of manslaughter.

Zulkernain was also found guilty of two counts of GBH with intent and another count of attempting to cause GBH with intent. Armaan was convicted of an additional charge of wounding.