Two British teenagers have been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years for the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on a London bus.
On January 7, 2025, Kelyan Bokassa, an aspiring rapper, was fatally stabbed 27 times with machetes on the route 472 bus in Woolwich, southeast London.
The attack, which lasted just 14 seconds, occurred in broad daylight as horrified passengers witnessed the violence.
The two perpetrators, aged 15 and 16 at the time, boarded the bus armed with machetes and targeted Kelyan, who was seated at the back, unable to escape.
CCTV footage revealed Kelyan appeared concerned for his safety before the attack, which prosecutors linked to gang-related tensions in the area.
Kelyan, who carried a knife but had no chance to use it, died at the scene despite efforts from passersby and police.
At London’s Old Bailey court, Judge Mark Lucraft sentenced the teenagers, whose identities are protected due to their age, to life with a minimum of 15 years and 110 days before parole eligibility.
The judge noted the attackers were themselves victims of gang exploitation, with one having a history of trauma and the other facing developmental challenges.
The case has intensified concerns about the rising tide of knife crime in the UK, which has surged nearly 80% since 2015, with 10 teenagers fatally stabbed in London last year alone.
Kelyan’s mother, Marie Bokassa, expressed her grief and questioned how young people could commit such acts, highlighting the role of gang influence in the tragedy.
The murder has left Woolwich reeling, with the community grappling with the loss of another young life to knife crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee emphasized the disproportionate impact of violence on young Black men and boys in London, urging policymakers to prioritize solutions.
The attack follows other high-profile incidents, including the stabbing of a 15-year-old friend of Kelyan in Woolwich in 2024, described as gang retaliation.
Judge Lucraft called the incident a “senseless loss” to the “horrors of knife crime,” underscoring the urgent need to address youth violence and gang exploitation in the capital.