Mum of ninja sword victim Ronan Kanda demands weapons are finally banned
The mum of a teen who was stabbed to death with a ‘ninja’ sword has launched a new campaign to have the weapons banned.
Pooja Kanda, whose son Ronan was murdered in June 2022, also wants a clampdown on websites selling the horrific blades
Tragic Ronan, 16, was attacked from behind with a 20-inch sword as he walked home from a pal’s house. CCTV footage of the seconds leading up to the horrific stabbing in Wolverhampton shocked the nation.
Ronan’s killers, who were both 16, mistook the Liverpool fan for another teen they were in dispute with. One of them had collected the ‘ninja’ sword used in the murder earlier that day after buying it online using his mum’s ID. Ronan, an aspiring lawyer who had just finished his GCSEs, was listening to music when he was stabbed twice from behind. The massive sword pierced his heart and he died at the scene just yards from his home in June last year.
Legislation banning the sale of zombie knives was introduced to parliament last month and will come into force in the autumn. But the ban does not cover the sale of other dangerous types of weapons, including swords like the one which killed Ronan. Pooja is now calling on parents to write to their local MPs urging them to support a wider ban which would include zombie swords. The 46-year-old, from Wolverhampton, said she “cannot understand” why ministers are still allowing the sale of lethal blades.
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Pooja has the backing of Labour leader Keir Starmer. His party on Tuesday will demand that bosses of tech firms face criminal prosecution if illegal weapons are sold on their sites. Labour is also pushing for the Government to extend a proposed ban on zombie knives so it also applies to ninja swords
Pooja said: “I cannot understand why the government continues to allow the sale of swords when these weapons have no purpose other than to seriously threaten, harm or kill. A 20 inch ‘ninja sword’ that was purchased online and collected by a 16-year-old from a Post Office as if it was a loaf of bread, was used to murder my son. This sword went 17cm straight through Ronan's heart in a matter of seconds and killed him instantly. My son didn't stand a chance.
“This same sword is not included in the government's ban and can still be sold today. It doesn't take much to understand that swords are lethal weapons, especially when they are in the wrong hands. The government must use its upcoming ban to truly restrict the availability of these weapons.
“The ban must include swords, online sales must be addressed and ID checks for home deliveries and collection points must be enforced with tougher sanctions. Though the new ban is one small step in the right direction, it does not go far enough. We are very aware that banning ninja swords will not abolish knife crime.
“But we are also very aware that ninja swords have no purpose other than to cause harm, and we are certain that they do not belong in anyone’s hands or homes. Sir Keir has understood and supported our call for ninja swords - the question we keep asking ourselves is, why haven’t the government?”
Labour has pledged to conduct a review of online knife sales from point of purchase through to delivery, which will particularly look at how to strengthen ID checks.
Shadow Policing Minister Alex Norris said: “Knife crime destroys lives and leaves families and communities reeling. The government has a duty to do everything it can to stop these dangerous weapons getting into the hands of teenagers and those who would do harm.”
More than 10,000 people have signed Pooja’s open letter to Rishi Sunak supporting a ban as part of the #JusticeForRonanKanda campaign. Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, now both 17, were jailed for life for Ronan’s murder last July.
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