PHILIP CRAIG SENTENCED FOR MURDER OF CHRISTOPHER LASKARIS IN LEEDS

Philip Craig was convicted of murdering Christopher Laskaris, a vulnerable young man who was stabbed through the heart in his Leeds flat in November 2016. The court sentenced Craig to life imprisonment in 2017, with a minimum term of 25 years before he becomes eligible for parole. Craig was released from prison on licence in February 2016, but he was recalled to custody three months later. He was subsequently released again in September 2016. On October 8, 2016, authorities responded to an incident at Laskaris's flat, where officers found him and secured the premises after entering. Despite the successful conviction, Laskaris's family criticized the authorities, claiming there was a failure to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death. They also expressed disappointment that the coroner did not examine alleged failures of local services to diagnose and support Christopher, or investigate how he came to live alone in his flat without adequate support. Craig, identified as a drug dealer and user, was ultimately sentenced to life for the murder, which involved stabbing Laskaris at his residence. The case raised concerns about the handling of the situation by police and social services and fueled ongoing debate about the level of support provided to vulnerable individuals. The victim's family described Christopher as a "bright, lovely boy, missed by us every day," and lamented the lack of accountability for the system failures they believe contributed to his death.