Mother of machete attack victim says ‘streets are bleeding' after killers jailed
Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa said 'I want my mum' after he was mortally wounded in front of horrified passengers aboard the 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London, on January 7.
Two youths, aged 16, pleaded guilty to Kelyan's murder and having a knife.
In a televised sentencing on Friday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC detained them for life and set minimum terms of 15 years and 10 months.
Judge Lucraft said Kenyan's death was a 'senseless loss' of yet another young life to the 'horrors of knife crime'.
One of the youths in the dock of the Old Bailey smiled as he was sent down.
Outside court, Kelyan's mother Marie Bokassa issued a call for action to end the bloodshed.
In a statement read on her behalf, she said: 'To the Government and authorities. How many mothers like me, will it take? How many children must we bury before you act with urgency?
'Where are you? Where were you? I had no support from you when my son was alive and no support now that he is dead. A letter of condolence doesn't mean anything to us.
'Our streets are bleeding. Our cemeteries are full. Our prisons are overflowing. Pain and loss is becoming normalised.
'Our streets are no longer safe for our children. Public transport is no longer safe. Schools are no longer safe. You have lost control of London.'
She added: 'To the young people who carry knives, I beg you to stop before you raise up blades. Think of your own mother. Think of the mothers who will cry every night, like I do, will scream into her pillow, who will walk past her child's empty room and collapse with grief.
'Don't let a moment of anger steal your future. Don't let the streets raise you in a way your mother never would. There is no power in death, there is only loss.'
Earlier, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said Kelyan had boarded the 472 bus just after 2pm to attend an appointment at the Youth Justice Centre in Woolwich.
CCTV showed Kelyan on the back seat of the top deck, with a knife in the waistband of his trousers.
Ms Heer said the teenager looked around and out of the windows before taking his seat 'giving every impression that he was concerned for his safety'.
The defendants, who cannot be named, boarded the bus 20 minutes later each armed with identical machetes hidden in their clothes.
The pair walked towards Kelyan 'with purpose' and withdrew their blades before immediately stabbing him without uttering a word to their victim.
Ms Heer said: 'Since Kelyan Bokassa was seated on the back seat, he was cornered, unable to escape as the defendants repeatedly thrust their knives towards him, smiling as they did so.'
The attack lasted around 14 seconds, with the youths thrusting the machetes towards Kelyan 27 times.
Ms Heer went on: 'Kelyan Bokassa had no time to reach for his own knife, which remained in his trousers, and instead tried in vain to protect himself with his school bag.
'There were several other passengers on the top deck who fled in panic when they realised what was happening. They describe hearing intense screaming from the back of the bus and the victim shouting, 'Help. Help. I've been stabbed'.
'They describe both defendants making quick, forceful movements towards Kelyan Bokassa as he tried to defend himself.'
The bus driver activated his emergency alarm just before 2.27pm and the defendants fled when the vehicle stopped at Woolwich Ferry.
Kelyan stumbled down the aisle to the stairs, where another passenger went to help him.
The boy was heard to say: 'Take me to my mum's. I want my mum,' before his legs buckled, bleeding heavily from a wound to the leg.
Members of the public flagged down a passing police car and officers found Kelyan had collapsed and his body was limp.
Despite attempts to save him, Kelyan died at the scene at 3.23pm.
One of the machetes was thrown into the River Thames, but was later recovered by police.
The defendants were quickly identified from CCTV on the bus and arrested.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Ms Bokassa said: 'At least my son is at peace, and those two kids are going to have a really tough time.
'I ask myself what has happened to those two boys that has resulted in that terrible act of violence, and I cannot imagine how can they be so angry.
'What they did was horrific and I do not know what has led them to do this, and maybe I will never.'
The court heard both defendants have previous convictions for carrying blades in public.
Samantha Yelland, senior crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: 'This was a savage and sustained attack on a 14-year-old boy which was carried out in broad daylight on a busy bus.
'We worked closely with police and were thankfully helped by clear CCTV evidence which both placed the defendants on the bus and showed one of them discarding the machete. They had little choice but to plead guilty.'
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, from Scotland Yard, said it had been a 'deeply troubling' case.
She said: 'The harsh reality in London is that violence disproportionately affects young black men and boys.
'The fact we're seeing so many teenagers like Kelyan die should be at the forefront of the minds of every politician, every policy maker and everyone who wants better for children growing up in London.
'Without this collective effort, we won't be able to tackle knife crime in its entirety.
'And while I am pleased that Keylan's mother, Marie, has been spared the emotional turmoil of a trial, I know that she still desperately seeks to understand why three young lives could be considered so disposable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
17 minutes ago
- Sky News
Cocaine smugglers jailed for more than 82 years in total
A gang of drugs smugglers who led the Border Force on a 28-mile chase after their cocaine-laden boat was spotted by officers have been jailed for more than 82 years in total. Peter Williams and Scott Johnston, both from Havant, and Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca, of Barcelona, were arrested after their boat ran aground on Gwynver Beach near Penzance in Cornwall, in September. They had been trying to smuggle cocaine worth £18.4m into the UK, throwing packages of the banned substance overboard during the pursuit. Six large bales, weighing around 230kg, of high-purity cocaine were recovered from the sea. After their boat ran aground, the men ran off but were quickly caught by officers who chased them on foot and arrested them. Alex Fowlie, of Chichester, Bobbie Pearce, of Brentwood, Michael May, of Brentwood, and Terry Willis, of Chelmsford, were convicted after National Crime Agency (NCA) officers used CCTV footage, call data and phone messages to identify the quartet. Johnston, 38, was sentenced to 24 years in jail at Truro Crown Court, while Willis, 44, and May, 47, have been handed sentences of 21 years and eight months, and 19 years, respectively. Tabora Baca, 33, has been given 17 years and seven months in jail. Williams, 43, and Pearce, 29, will be sentenced on 21 August. Fowlie, 35, will be sentenced on 5 September. All seven men initially denied the charges, and Tabora Baca even claimed to be a tourist who had accepted an invitation from two strangers - Williams and Johnston - to go fishing. But officers recovered messages from his phone discussing the group's plans and sharing a photo of the cocaine onboard their rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB). Five of the men later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import Class A drugs, including Willis, who also pleaded guilty to money laundering and possession of a firearm - relating to a revolver and ammunition found at his home address by NCA officers. May and Johnston, who pleaded not guilty, were found guilty of conspiracy to import Class A drugs, following a two-week trial at Truro Crown Court in June.
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Gang murdered tourist after following him from party mansion made famous by Bonnie Blue
A gang of robbers have been found guilty of fatally stabbing a Greek tourist after following him from outside a multimillion-pound party mansion. Antonis Antoniadis, 26, was targeted after he left 32 Portland Place nightclub, in Marylebone, west London. Following an Old Bailey trial, Shian Johnson, 26, Sofian Alliche, 20, his brother Amin Alliche, 18, Joshua McCorquodale, 20, and Alfie Hipple, 18, all from Camden, north London, were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob. The defendants were taken down from the dock after one of them reacted with an angry outburst, accusing the jury of 'ruining' his life. The jury had deliberated for more than 14 hours to reach its unanimous verdicts, with one of them leaving court in tears. Judge Rebecca Trowler KC adjourned sentencing until October 3. The court heard how Greek printing firm office worker Mr Antoniadis had come on holiday to London for a week with two friends called Maria and Tia. They ended up at the 32 Portland Place nightclub in Marylebone in the early hours of July 7, jurors were told. The venue, owned by Edward 'Fast Eddie' Davenport, came to public attention when it hosted OnlyFans personality Bonnie Blue in her attempt to sleep with more than 1,000 men in 12 hours. On the evening before the murder, the robbers followed a yellow Lamborghini and a Mercedes car before fixing on the victim, who was carrying a Lacoste man bag and wearing a designer Versace watch. Mr Antoniadis and his two female friends did not leave Portland Place until after 8am and had booked an Uber to get back to a friend's address in New Cross, south-east London, where they were staying. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC said the tourists had no idea that the young men hanging around outside the nightclub in a stolen car were on the lookout for someone to rob. He said: 'It seems that when that group of five saw Antonis come out of the club, those robbers thought they had found a suitable target. 'So when they saw him come out and get into his Uber, they, in their stolen car, followed him.' The defendants trailed the Uber car for more than half an hour to its destination on the opposite side of London, the court heard. As one of Mr Antoniadis's friends struggled to find the door key upon arriving at the address, he was approached by four figures in hoods and balaclavas. The fifth member of the gang acted as the getaway driver, jurors were told. Mr Antoniadis managed to hit one of the robbers with a brandy bottle as the group tried to grab his man bag. Mr Emlyn Jones said: 'Tragically, whether it was brave or whether it was just an instinctive response, that reaction was to cost him his life.' The victim was punched and kicked and then stabbed in the chest and thigh, severing his femoral artery. The attackers, at least two of whom were carrying large knives, then fled the scene in the getaway car, leaving the victim bleeding heavily. Mr Antoniadis was treated at the scene and taken to hospital where attempts were made to save his life, but he died from his injuries on July 21 last year. The car used by the robbers – a stolen Kia Sportage with false number plates – was captured on CCTV and the defendants were also linked through cell site data. Jurors heard McCorquodale had convictions in 2022 for conspiracy to rob and robbery relating to mobile phone snatching and trying to take an electric bicycle with an accomplice. When police searched his home they found a machete, a Zombie knife and two balaclavas. Both McCorquodale and Johnson denied being present at the time of the murder, saying they left earlier that evening. Within days of the murder, Johnson and his girlfriend had taken a flight to Cancun in Mexico and booked into an all-inclusive hotel resort and spa. They failed to return on their scheduled flight back to Gatwick on July 24. Four days later, police were waiting at Gatwick airport and they boarded a flight that arrived from Madrid to arrest Johnson on suspicion of murder. Johnson had a conviction for possessing a knife in Camden High Street in 2015, and a machete and balaclava were found at his home. The court heard Sofian Alliche had a previous conviction for robbing a man on Regent's Canal towpath in 2019. In a search of the Alliche brothers' home, officers seized two balaclavas, a Louis Vuitton man bag, a large sword and drug paraphernalia. Amin Alliche admitted being the driver but claimed he did not leave the car at the scene of the murder, as did his sibling Sofian. Hipple admitted leaving the car in New Cross but claimed to be unaware of the robbery and had only taken a mobile phone in an opportunistic theft. Jurors heard he had a conviction in 2022 for possessing an offensive weapon in public relating to a police stop in which he was found with a knife in a sheath tucked into his waistband. Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, Specialist Crime South, said: 'Antonis had been visiting from Greece with friends. Very tragically he never made it home to his family. 'This was a particularly challenging and complex case given the lack of CCTV at the scene and the movement of the vehicle, which had been driven by the defendants continuously throughout the night of July 6 and into the following afternoon. 'I would like to thank in particular Antonis' friends, who had witnessed his brutal murder and returned to the UK to give their evidence. 'I would also like to thank the witnesses who came forward and helped us to understand what had happened to Antonis. 'I am pleased our concerted efforts to find those responsible has enabled us to achieve justice for Antonis' loved ones, family, and friends.'
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
I forgave my partner for affair with my best pal eight years ago – but I still can't forget it or move on
DEAR DEIDRE: A BLACK lace bra was all the evidence I needed that my wife was having an affair with my best friend. His wife told me what was going on after she found the underwear stuffed down the side of her bed. When she told me the bra size, my blood ran cold as I realised it was the same size my wife wore. This was eight years ago but I still can't forget it or move on. I'm a man of 42 and have been with my partner for 15 years. She's 37. Our relationship was great until I got a job where I worked in the US for several months of the year. When I was in Los Angeles, the time difference made it hard for us to communicate, and my partner told me she felt lonely in the evenings. She started going out with her friends more — at least, that's what she told me. At the time, I trusted her. But a few weeks before I returned home, I got a message from my best friend's wife asking me to call. When we FaceTimed, she was in bits. She said my wife had been spending a lot of time with her husband. My partner hadn't told me about this — which seemed suspicious in itself. Then my friend's wife said she had been changing their bed when she found a lacy black bra tucked under the mattress. Spotting the signs your partner is cheating She said my partner was the only woman who had visited her house and told me the bra size. When I came home, I confronted my partner and my best friend individually. They both said I was paranoid. Soon after, my best friend's marriage broke up. Our friendship has never been the same. I have tried to forget what happened, to forgive my partner and carry on with our life together but it still troubles me to this day. What do you advise I should do? DEIDRE SAYS: The evidence was circumstantial but your gut told you the two people closest to you had cheated. As they both denied it, you chose to try to forgive and forget. Unfortunately, eight years later, it's clear that you haven't been able to do that. Try talking to your partner again. Ask her to be honest so you can put this issue to bed once and for all. First, think about how you will react if she finally admits to an affair, and whether you would want to break up or simply need the truth for closure. Having couples counselling would be wise, so you can deal with this in a safe environment. Contact (020 7380 1975) for an appointment. My support pack, Cheating, Can You Get Over It?, should help. THANK YOU FOR HELPING AS LOAN LEFT ME SUICIDAL DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER I took out a loan that I couldn't afford to pay back, I became scared to open my front door in case debt collectors turned up. When I first saw the loan advertised online, it seemed like the answer to my prayers. But the interest rate was high and when my circumstances changed, I couldn't keep making the monthly repayments. I'm a 53-year-old single woman. I was so stressed, it was making me ill. I couldn't sleep or eat and sometimes I felt suicidal. You told me that no amount of money owed was worth ending my life over and gave me details of the Samaritans ( 116 123). You praised me for asking for help and advised me to see my GP. You suggested I read your support packs, Solving Debt Problems and Family Finances, and recommended I contact the charity Step Change ( for debt solutions. I took your advice and made an appointment with my doctor. She told me not to look at my bank account every day, to help with stress. I also got advice from a debt charity. Six months on, I have finally finished paying my loan. I won't ever take out another one again! Thank you for supporting me through a stressful time. Well done on paying off your loan. It must be a huge relief for you not to owe any more money. I'm glad I could help. DEAR DEIDRE: EVEN though I've been with my husband for 20 years, he still talks about his teenage sweetheart – and I can't compete. They had a child together when they were 18, but my husband had no contact with his son or the boy's mother for almost four decades. In the meantime, we met, married and had two children. I'm 49 and he's 57. However, a few months ago, his son got in touch out of the blue to say his mother had died. Since then, my husband has become obsessed with his dead ex. He plays 'their song' – the track they danced to at a school party – looks back through old photos, and has even told his son his mum was the love of his life. They were, he says, just too young for it to work. He doesn't seem to care what impact this is having on me. It really hurts. It feels like our whole life together has meant nothing to him, that I'm second best. He says I'm being ridiculous and he loves me. But I'm on the brink of leaving because it's all too painful. Why is he acting like this? DEIDRE SAYS: It sounds like your husband is finding it difficult to deal with the death of his first love, and the reappearance of his son. He may be feeling a complicated combination of emotions – grief, regret, guilt, nostalgia for his youth – feelings he has never dealt with, which he is now trying to work through. That's not an excuse for his selfish behaviour towards you, but it might explain it. Be patient with him. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you. Try to be supportive and give him time to deal with this, but be honest about how hard this is for you. Encourage him to seek bereavement counselling. My support pack, Coping With Bereavement, has details of how to go about this. TEENAGE TROUBLES DEAR DEIDRE: I MOVED to Scotland to be with my boyfriend but now I miss home so much I'm having doubts about our relationship. We met in London but he's got a job in Edinburgh. We didn't want to be apart, so I agreed to go with him. He's 21 and I'm 19. I love him but after six months here, I'm so lonely and isolated, away from all my friends and family. We're arguing a lot and I'm scared we'll end up splitting. But it's too far for a long-distance relationship. DEIDRE SAYS: Building a life in a new place is hard. Tell him how you feel. You moved for him, so he needs to make an effort to help you make friends. Check out local groups and meet-ups. My support pack, Feeling Lonely?, should help, too. Also, invite your friends and family to stay and plan regular trips back home. NO DESIRE TO ROMP WITH WIFE DEAR DEIDRE: SEX with my wife is a total flop – even though I have no problem keeping an erection when I'm pleasuring myself. For some reason, I just have no desire to be intimate with her any more. We're both upset about it. Now I'm wondering if I should find another woman online to test out what happens if I try to have sex. I'm 56, my wife is 48, we have been married for 20 years and have three children. Until last year, I had a high sex drive and we made love frequently. But my libido has gradually disappeared to the point that I can't get or maintain an erection when we want to get physically intimate. Even taking Viagra didn't help. But masturbating isn't a problem. Trying sex with another woman would clarify if the issue is with my relationship. But I'd feel guilty. I love my wife and don't want to cheat. How can I resolve this? DEIDRE SAYS: Finding another woman for sex is not the answer. The guilt could well affect your ability to perform – and it's wrong to use a person to diagnose your issue. If you can masturbate to climax, it seems likely your problem is psychological. And the more you worry about your erections disappearing, the more likely this is to happen. My support pack, Solving Erection Problems, has more information on this, and how to get help. You and your wife need to discuss what's happening and find if there is a deeper, perhaps unacknowledged, problem in your relationship. Couples counselling may be worth pursuing. See my support pack, How Counselling Can Help.
