Teens who smiled as as they stabbed schoolboy to death are jailed for life

26 Jul 2025 • 2:09 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Two 16-year-old youths have been jailed for life for the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on a bus in Woolwich, south-east London.
  • The aspiring rapper was attacked with machetes on a route 472 bus on 7 January, with the assailants smiling during the 14-second assault.
  • Kelyan, who had a knife in his waistband but could not reach it, was heard calling for his mother before he died at the scene.
  • The two defendants pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a knife, receiving a minimum term of 15 years and 10 months.
  • Kelyan's mother, Marie Bokassa, delivered an emotional victim impact statement, while the court heard the attackers had previous convictions for carrying blades.

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