The family of Yousef Makki say they are 'disappointed' but will 'fight for justice' after the Attorney General's office refused their request to refer the sentences of two boys convicted after the 17-year-old's death to the Court of Appeal.

Yousef's sister said the decision showed the Government wasn't 'tough on knife crime' and the sentences 'sent the wrong message about knife crime'.

Yousef, a Manchester Grammar School pupil, bled to death after being stabbed in the heart in Hale Barns, Trafford, on Saturday, March 2.

A 17-year-old boy who inflicted the fatal stab wound - 'Boy A' - was cleared of murder and manslaughter following a four-week trial.

He is serving a 16-month detention and training order for possessing a knife and perverting the course of justice.

Yousef Makki

A second 17-year-old - 'Boy B' - is serving four months for possessing a blade, but was cleared of perverting the course of justice.

Yousef's family described the sentences as 'unduly lenient' and submitted an application to the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, asking him to refer the sentences to the Court of Appeal.

In a letter to the family's solicitor on Tuesday Michael Ellis QC MP, the Solicitor General, wrote on behalf of the office: "I am also sorry to tell you that after carefully considering this case, I have concluded that I cannot refer these sentences to the Court of Appeal.

"I know that this news will be disappointing to Yousef's family and I wanted to write to them personally and explain my decision.

"The Court of Appeal will only increase a sentence in exceptional circumstances, such as cases in which there has been a 'gross error' and the sentence is significantly below the range that any judge could have reasonably imposed.

Tributes to Yousef left outside Manchester Grammar School

"The threshold is a very high one and I bear this test in mind when I review sentences."

He said lawyers in the office reviewed all legal paperwork connected with the case and the judge's sentencing remarks.

But the sentences imposed, he said, 'fell within the range of sentences available to the sentencing judge'.

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"I reviewed the sentencing transcript and concluded that the judge applied his mind to the relevant guidance published by the Sentencing Council and the relevant case law," the letter went on.

"There is no evidence to suggest that he fell into gross error during the sentencing exercise.

"I am very sorry to Yousef's family that I am unable to give them the news that they will have been hoping for but please be assured that I have given this case the most careful consideration."

Jade Akoum, sister of Yousef Makki, speaks to media outside Manchester Crown Court

Jade Akoum, Yousef's sister, said: "We are disappointed with the decision.

"These sentences send the wrong message about knife crime. The Government has spoken of being tough on crime, but for us this decision shows otherwise.

"We will be discussing with our legal team the way forward and we will not rest until we have justice for Yousef."

The appeal was made under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme (ULS).

Yousef, from Burnage, had ambitions to become a heart surgeon.

Both convicted teenagers cannot be named for legal reasons because of their ages.