Latest news with #DaejaunCampbell
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Convictions after two young friends killed in machete attacks months apart
Two teenage friends aged just 14 and 15 were killed in gang-related machete attacks four months apart, it can now be reported. Daejaun Campbell cried out 'I'm 15, don't let me die' after he was ambushed in Woolwich, south-east London, on September 22 last year, the Old Bailey heard. On Wednesday, a boy aged 17, was found guilty of his murder after a jury deliberated for more than 19 hours. Co-accused Marko Balaz, 19, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. A third defendant, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, also from Abbey Wood, was cleared of wrongdoing. It can now be reported that Daejaun was friends with 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed by two 16-year-old boys with machetes on a bus in Woolwich months later on January 7. Aspiring rapper Kelyan, nicknamed Grippa, had featured in a YouTube music video entitled Gotta Eat – in which he was seen crouching beside a floral tribute to Daejaun. Last Friday, two 16-year-old youths were detained for at least 15 years and 10 months after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to Kelyan's murder. The two boys' murders, though not directly related, bore striking similarities and have resulted in pleas by their families to end the 'senseless killings'. Last week, Kelyan's mother Marie Bokassa made an appeal for authorities to do more to stop the violence, saying: 'Our streets at bleeding.' In the wake of Daejaun's murder, his family released a statement in which Daejaun was described as 'naturally gifted, intelligent, creative and musically talented'. They said: 'The brutal manner which Daejaun was taken away from us is sad, and he not the first young person nor will he be the last, this senseless killing needs to stop.' Both killings had been linked to street gang culture with Daejaun described as being exploited and groomed by older youths. Daejaun was allegedly targeted for a 'gang check' when he was spotted near a house the defendants were visiting. Prosecutor Mukul Chawla KC had said he was attacked by Balaz and the 17-year-old boy. He said a witness had heard Daejaun screaming and calling for 'help' as he was stabbed. He also threw a large knife that he was carrying although it appears to have only hit a metal fence or railing and broken into pieces, the court had heard. The 17-year-old attacker was caught on video dropping his machete and leaning down to pick it up as he made off. Daejaun fell to his knees in the street having suffered two stab wounds and six superficial cuts. Losiewicz had driven the others to the scene and was nearby, the court had heard. Mr Chawla told jurors the motive for the killing was unclear but that Daejaun had been carrying money and drugs, possibly crack cocaine. He said: 'He may therefore have been a person exploited, by reason of his age if for no other reason, to be used as carrier and supplier of drugs by organisations that will use younger people and other vulnerable people for those purposes. 'That may be or may have been the reason why he was attacked.' The two older defendants admitted being at the scene but denied being involved in Daejaun's killing. The 17-year-old youth admitted the killing but claimed he acted in self defence and alone. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon – a machete – in a public place. The 17-year-old also had previous convictions for carrying a 'kukri' style knife in 2021 and having a machete and affray relating to a fight in October 2023 in which a male suffered a cut to his face and a stab wound. The court heard Balaz had previous convictions for carrying knives and possession of cannabis. Mr Losiewicz had no convictions to his name.
The Independent
30-07-2025
- The Independent
Convictions after two young friends killed in machete attacks months apart
Two teenage friends aged just 14 and 15 were killed in gang-related machete attacks four months apart, it can now be reported. Daejaun Campbell cried out 'I'm 15, don't let me die' after he was ambushed in Woolwich, south-east London, on September 22 last year, the Old Bailey heard. On Wednesday, a boy aged 17, was found guilty of his murder after a jury deliberated for more than 19 hours. Co-accused Marko Balaz, 19, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. A third defendant, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, also from Abbey Wood, was cleared of wrongdoing. It can now be reported that Daejaun was friends with 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed by two 16-year-old boys with machetes on a bus in Woolwich months later on January 7. Aspiring rapper Kelyan, nicknamed Grippa, had featured in a YouTube music video entitled Gotta Eat – in which he was seen crouching beside a floral tribute to Daejaun. Last Friday, two 16-year-old youths were detained for at least 15 years and 10 months after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to Kelyan's murder. The two boys' murders, though not directly related, bore striking similarities and have resulted in pleas by their families to end the 'senseless killings'. Last week, Kelyan's mother Marie Bokassa made an appeal for authorities to do more to stop the violence, saying: 'Our streets at bleeding.' In the wake of Daejaun's murder, his family released a statement in which Daejaun was described as 'naturally gifted, intelligent, creative and musically talented'. They said: 'The brutal manner which Daejaun was taken away from us is sad, and he not the first young person nor will he be the last, this senseless killing needs to stop.' Both killings had been linked to street gang culture with Daejaun described as being exploited and groomed by older youths. Daejaun was allegedly targeted for a 'gang check' when he was spotted near a house the defendants were visiting. Prosecutor Mukul Chawla KC had said he was attacked by Balaz and the 17-year-old boy. He said a witness had heard Daejaun screaming and calling for 'help' as he was stabbed. He also threw a large knife that he was carrying although it appears to have only hit a metal fence or railing and broken into pieces, the court had heard. The 17-year-old attacker was caught on video dropping his machete and leaning down to pick it up as he made off. Daejaun fell to his knees in the street having suffered two stab wounds and six superficial cuts. Losiewicz had driven the others to the scene and was nearby, the court had heard. Mr Chawla told jurors the motive for the killing was unclear but that Daejaun had been carrying money and drugs, possibly crack cocaine. He said: 'He may therefore have been a person exploited, by reason of his age if for no other reason, to be used as carrier and supplier of drugs by organisations that will use younger people and other vulnerable people for those purposes. 'That may be or may have been the reason why he was attacked.' The two older defendants admitted being at the scene but denied being involved in Daejaun's killing. The 17-year-old youth admitted the killing but claimed he acted in self defence and alone. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon – a machete – in a public place. The 17-year-old also had previous convictions for carrying a 'kukri' style knife in 2021 and having a machete and affray relating to a fight in October 2023 in which a male suffered a cut to his face and a stab wound. The court heard Balaz had previous convictions for carrying knives and possession of cannabis. Mr Losiewicz had no convictions to his name.
BBC News
30-07-2025
- BBC News
Two teens guilty of killing Daejaun Campbell, 15
Two teenagers have been found guilty of killing 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell who was stabbed to death with a machete in south-east London.A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was found guilty of murder and 19-year-old Marko Balaz, was found guilty of manslaughter, but acquitted of murder.A third defendant, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, was cleared of the trial, the Old Bailey was told as he lay injured on the ground Daejaun told a witness giving him first aid his age and said: "Don't let me die." The trial heard Losiewicz had driven Balaz and the 17-year-old defendant to Woolwich in his mother's car on 22 September last year, just a few minutes before the attack in Eglinton Road.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
Boy, 15, 'heard screaming for help' after Woolwich machete stabbing
A 15-year-old boy was heard screaming for help after he was stabbed with a machete in Woolwich, a court has been told. Daejaun Campbell died after an alleged 'targeted' attack in Eglinton Road, on September 22 last year. Three teenagers are accused over his murder – Jacob Losiewicz, 18, Marko Balaz, 19, both from Abbey Wood, south-east London, and a boy aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Prosecutor Mukul Chawla KC told an Old Bailey jury during the trial's opening on Friday: 'The three defendants appear to have targeted Daejaun Campbell as he approached and went past the house that the three of them were in. 'Two of the defendants, Marko Balaz and (the 17-year-old), physically attacked Daejaun Campbell while the third, Jacob Losiewicz, was in close proximity providing encouragement first of all by his presence… and also providing shelter to the other two immediately after the attack. 'This was therefore, say the prosecution, a murder in which all three defendants jointly participated.' Footage was played to jurors which the prosecution alleged shows the 17-year-old defendant 'picking up the machete he had just used to stab' Daejaun. The jury was taken through multiple witness accounts of the incident, with one witness, named only as Witness A, believing they heard Daejaun screaming for help. 'They heard three to four screams of distress from outside,' Mr Chawla said. 'The victim screamed a number of times during the incident. Witness A thought he might have been screaming 'help'.' Mr Chawla told jurors the reason for Daejaun's killing 'cannot be established', but said it is clear he had been carrying drugs, possibly crack cocaine, and money when he was attacked. 'He may therefore have been a person exploited, by reason of his age if for no other reason, to be used as carrier and supplier of drugs by organisations that will use younger people and other vulnerable people for those purposes,' the prosecutor said. 'That may be or may have been the reason why he was attacked.' READ MORE: The court heard that during the incident, Daejaun threw a 'large knife' that he was carrying although it appears to have only hit a metal fence or railing and broken into pieces. All three defendants deny murder, and the jury was told the 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon – a machete – in a public place. The trial continues.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- The Independent
Boy, 15, heard screaming for help after machete stabbing, court told
A 15-year-old boy was heard screaming for help after he was stabbed with a machete in south-east London, a court has been told. Daejaun Campbell died after an alleged 'targeted' attack in Eglinton Road, Woolwich, on September 22 last year. Three teenagers are accused over his murder – Jacob Losiewicz, 18, Marko Balaz, 19, both from Abbey Wood, south-east London, and a boy aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Prosecutor Mukul Chawla KC told an Old Bailey jury during the trial's opening on Friday: 'The three defendants appear to have targeted Daejaun Campbell as he approached and went past the house that the three of them were in. ' Two of the defendants, Marko Balaz and (the 17-year-old), physically attacked Daejaun Campbell while the third, Jacob Losiewicz, was in close proximity providing encouragement first of all by his presence… and also providing shelter to the other two immediately after the attack. 'This was therefore, say the prosecution, a murder in which all three defendants jointly participated.' Footage was played to jurors which the prosecution alleged shows the 17-year-old defendant 'picking up the machete he had just used to stab' Daejaun. The jury was taken through multiple witness accounts of the incident, with one witness, named only as Witness A, believing they heard Daejaun screaming for help. 'They heard three to four screams of distress from outside,' Mr Chawla said. 'The victim screamed a number of times during the incident. Witness A thought he might have been screaming 'help'.' Mr Chawla told jurors the reason for Daejaun's killing 'cannot be established', but said it is clear he had been carrying drugs, possibly crack cocaine, and money when he was attacked. 'He may therefore have been a person exploited, by reason of his age if for no other reason, to be used as carrier and supplier of drugs by organisations that will use younger people and other vulnerable people for those purposes,' the prosecutor said. 'That may be or may have been the reason why he was attacked.' The court heard that during the incident, Daejaun threw a 'large knife' that he was carrying although it appears to have only hit a metal fence or railing and broken into pieces. All three defendants deny murder, and the jury was told the 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon – a machete – in a public place. The trial continues.
