This is the heartbreaking moment Dontae Davis' mum called 999 pleading for help after her son was fatally stabbed in Bristol last year. Dontae was found injured in Hayes Close, Lawrence Hill, at around 6.20pm on October 14, he was just 18-years-old at the time of his death.
At the time Avon and Somerset Police charged 19-year-old Kairon Sawyers of Ewell Road, Whitchurch, with murder. However, following an almost three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court a jury found Sawyers not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.
The court heard that the fatal stabbing occurred after a knife fight in an alley between youths from rival groups. Sawyers denied the murder charge and told the jury that he acted in self defence and that he was the victim of a stabbing.
Read more: Dontae Davis murder trial: Sawyers guilty of manslaughter
Following the conclusion of the trial Avon and Somerset police have released an audio recording of the heartbreaking moment Dontae’s mum Niquae called 999 on that tragic day last year. Through broken sobs she can be heard telling the call-handler that her son had been stabbed and was lying unconscious near Old Market.
The call handler asks “is the patient breathing”, to which a very distressed Niquae can be heard saying: “I don’t know I’m not there. It’s my son he’s been stabbed, he’s on Old Market. They said he’s not breathing”.
The call-handler can then be heard trying to determine exactly where the incident had taken place, to which Niquae can be heard sobbing in the background and repeating the words: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry”
Dontae’s death in October shocked the community in Bristol, with tributes from the Mayor of Bristol, Empire boxing gym, Bristol Rovers, his college and his friends. The 18-year-old, who was the oldest of four children, was in college, worked at Bristol Rovers on matchdays and was a member of the Empire Fighting Chance gym.
He’d also got a job at the Plough pub in Easton, and was a well-known and much-loved member of the community. Following his death a crowdfunder was set up to help pay for funeral costs and at the time Niquae told Bristol Live how she had gained strength from the love and support from family, friends and complete strangers who knew and loved her son and was overwhelmed by their support.
Members of Dontae's family paid a heartfelt tribute to the young man from Bishopsworth who was a "ray of light" and "always loved to do right for others". His family said: "Dontae was strong, loving, caring, charming and a thoughtful son, brother, nephew and a friend to all.
"A young man of justice who always loved to do right for others and loved football, music and online gaming with his siblings and friends. Dontae was a ray of light with a distinctive cheeky smile that would shine through any room he entered.
“He was a family oriented person who was playful and loved spending time with his younger siblings. His heart was pure and his intentions were true and never half-hearted and we as a family are deeply saddened by this tragic loss.”
