Two teenagers charged with the savage murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa “must have known” he was on the London bus they attacked, a court heard.
Kelyan, a promising young rapper, was stabbed around 27 times with machetes on a route 472 bus near Woolwich Church Street just before 2:30pm on January 7. The teenager suffered fatal wounds including a severed femoral artery and died shortly after paramedics arrived.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the Old Bailey the assault was chillingly planned. “The two defendants must have known the deceased was on the bus. They approached him and almost instantaneously pulled out machetes, attacking the deceased,” he said.
Little said the teens carried out a frenzied attack, stabbing or trying to stab Kelyan 27 times before fleeing. One of the weapons was thrown into the River Thames.
The two accused boys, aged 15 and 16, can’t be named due to their age. The younger appeared via video from Feltham Young Offender Institution and was remanded in custody. The older appeared in person at the Old Bailey and was also remanded.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC scheduled a plea hearing for April 14 and a provisional trial date on October 13.
Kelyan’s family attended the hearing, visibly devastated. The Woolwich community has been rocked by the teen’s violent death, with an outpouring of tributes. Friends and relatives remember Kelyan as “kind-hearted” and “full of potential,” mourning the loss of his bright future in music.
The case throws a harsh light on London’s rising knife crime among youth. Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward as the investigation continues.
Originally published by UKNIP.
