'We don't want another family to suffer': Parents of murdered teenager call for change

‘It has been emotionally draining. This has mentally and physically destroyed me. I replay what happened to Christopher in my mind every day.’

Rebecca Parker has lost a considerable amount of weight since her son was murdered by a fellow 14-year-old.

She and Christopher’s father, Billy McBurnie, struggle to gather their thoughts as they try to explain how their lives have been turned upside down.

Christopher McBurnie died outside his killer’s home in Ramsey on May 29, 2025, after travelling there from Castletown for a pre-arranged fight.

What Christopher believed would be a fist fight turned into a nightmare when the other boy emerged brandishing a knife and stabbed him four times. One wound to Christopher’s chest proved fatal.

Following a four-week trial last month, a jury of 12 found the other boy, now 16, guilty of Christopher’s murder. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

The defendant admitted inflicting the fatal wound outside his Ramsey home but denied murder, claiming he had acted in self-defence.

Rebecca is determined that Christopher’s death will not become just another tragic footnote.

Instead, she wants his killing to be a catalyst for changes to the law, ensuring tougher sentences for those caught carrying weapons.

She established Christopher’s Legacy to raise awareness of knife crime on the island.

The campaign was understandably put on hold during the trial, but Rebecca intends to focus on it again once sentencing is complete.

‘I want Christopher’s Legacy to make a stand against knife crime,’ she said. ‘I don’t think people realise how much knife crime there is out there, much of it is not reported.

‘I asked Christopher about it a year before he died. He said he and his friends never carried a knife and those that did so were bullies.

‘I want to start a conversation about knife crime. There is a lot more going on than people realise.’

Alongside raising awareness, Christopher’s parents are calling for legislative change.

‘We need harsher sentences for those carrying weapons,’ Billy said.

‘We also want to raise awareness in the hope others won’t end up going through what we have,’ Rebecca added. ‘I have put in a Tynwald petition and I have already contacted an MHK to take this forward.

‘I would also like more education. I would be happy to go into schools to share Christopher’s story and the memories we have of him. It is about reaching out to the right people.’

Social media played a crucial role in the events leading up to Christopher’s death.

Christopher and the defendant had never met but had previously clashed over Snapchat.

On this occasion, they initially exchanged words during a TikTok live before moving to Snapchat, where the insults and threats escalated.

Neither was prepared to back down, particularly the defendant, and the confrontation ultimately proved fatal.

‘They did not know each other,’ Rebecca said, ‘and it was the first time Christopher had ever been to Ramsey on his own. It all just escalated on social media.’

However, Billy believes there are no easy solutions to protecting young people from the dangers associated with social media.

‘You could put an age restriction of 18 years on these platforms,’ he said, ‘but kids will find a way round it.

‘But parents should have access to their children’s phones to see what they are doing. Perhaps, they should be mirrored to the parent’s phone.’

The defendant is due to be sentenced on January 11, 2027. Although Rebecca and Billy want him to receive a lengthy custodial sentence, they know it will offer little comfort.

‘There can be no justice,’ Rebecca said. ‘It will not bring Christopher back.

‘The only thing the courts can do now is deliver a harsh sentence to make sure other people think twice before using a knife. We can only hope that will prevent other families having to go through what we have.’

Billy added: ‘I don’t think he should be freed. What happened to Christopher was brutal.’

Rebecca and Billy have other children and admit their approach to parenting has changed since Christopher’s death.

‘We have become very protective of our other children now,’ Rebecca said.

Billy added: ‘It is a worry for our older ones. You wonder when they head out whether they will return.’

Both acknowledge the devastating impact Christopher’s death has had on their other children, particularly the older ones.

‘I am just on autopilot but I need to be there for my other children,’ Rebecca admitted. ‘One of my boys was into the Bible but has since lost his faith, asking why God would take Christopher.’

Billy added: ‘Christopher’s brother was one of the best footballers for his age in the island but he hasn't played much since.’

Christopher’s parents found much of the trial difficult, particularly the portrayal of their son as a thug who terrorised fellow pupils at school.

‘There were four videos shown at court of Christopher involved in fights,’ Rebecca explained. ‘They did it to make out Christopher was a threat to the defendant but there was no context. The defendant hadn’t even seen the videos.

‘Christopher went back to school and shook hands with one of them and he was playing FIFA with another one a short time later.’

Another aspect of the trial that particularly angered Rebecca and Billy was the suggestion that the defendant’s autism or ADHD had contributed to what happened.

‘I was offended by the use of autism and ADHD by the defendant to explain his actions,’ Rebecca said. ‘I have children with autism and ADHD.’

Billy was equally upset, adding: ‘If all people with autism were homicidal, the murder rate would be through the roof. That portrayal is upsetting for all parents of children with these conditions.’

Rebecca also revealed the abuse she and her family have received in the 18 months since Christopher’s death.

‘I have had messages threatening to do to me what happened to Christopher,’ she revealed. ‘They labelled Christopher my “bad boy son”.

‘There were also accusations that I threatened others which was not true. The messages have been horrendous.’

Rebecca and Billy admit they are still struggling to come to terms with Christopher’s death.

Billy said: ‘I miss silly things like him calling me a “Walter”. He was getting to the age where he was really growing up and changing.

‘I miss our football trips and playing FIFA. I always beat him but he was getting to the point of beating me.

‘He was just starting to learn to play guitar and I gave him mine. He was also going to start a college course learning trades such as brick-laying, painting and joinery.’

Rebecca added: ‘There are 8.3bn people in the world and I found the person I needed in Christopher. He was my soulmate, my boy and he was taken away from me.’