Two machete-wielding teens who smiled as they fatally stabbed a 14-year-old schoolboy on a bus have been jailed for life.
Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times as he travelled on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, southeast London, on the afternoon of January 7.
The young boy called ‘I want my mum’ after he was mortally wounded by the two youths, aged 16, in front of horrified passengers.
The duo fled the scene and hid for six days before they were eventually discovered and arrested after being identified by CCTV footage.
Before the brazen attack, CCTV showed Kelyan boarding the bus shortly after 2pm, heading to his appointment at Woolwich Youth Justice Centre.
Earlier, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said he looked around and out of the windows before taking his seat ‘giving every impression that he was concerned for his safety’
Twenty minutes later, the defendants, who cannot be named, boarded the bus each armed with identical machetes hidden in their clothes.
Kelyan was sitting on the back seat on the top deck, with a knife in the waistband of his trousers.
The pair walked towards him ‘with purpose’ and withdrew their blades before immediately stabbing him without uttering a word to their victim.
The youths thrust the machetes towards the schoolboy 27 times in an attack that lasted around 14 seconds.
Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed around 27 times as he travelled home on a 472 bus in January
Two boys, both 16, who carried out the vicious attack have, have pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a bladed article
‘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,’ Ms Heer said.
The 14-year-old had no time to reach for his own knife which stayed in his trousers, the court heard.
Instead, he attempted ‘in vain’ to shield himself with a schoolbag, the prosecutor said, as several passengers fled in panic when they realised what had happened.
They described hearing ‘intense screaming’ from the back of the bus, as well as 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,’ Ms Heer added.
Just before 2.27pm, the bus driver activated his emergency alarm as the defendants fled the vehicle when it stopped at Woolwich Ferry.
Following this, Kelyan stumbled down the aisle to the stairs, where another passenger went to help him.
He was heard saying: ‘Take me to my mum’s. I want my mum,’ before his legs buckled, as he bled heavily from a leg wound.
In a victim impact statement, Kelyan’s mother Marie Bokassa revealed she had spent her son’s 15th birthday at his graveside
One of the youths in the dock of the Old Bailey smiled as the pair were sentenced to life at the Old Bailey today
The 14-year-old boy died after being fatally stabbed on the London bus in Woolwich in January
Officers found Kelyan had collapsed and his body was limp, and despite attempts to save him, the youngster died at the scene at 3.23pm.
Following the vicious attack, one of the machetes was thrown into the River Thames, but was later recovered by police.
The two teenagers were later arrested on 15 January 2025. Both defendants have previous convictions for carrying blades in public.
Following their arrest, the younger of the two told police: ‘I’m telling you right now bruv, I’m not involved bruv, not f-ing involved.’
When asked what he knew about Keylan he replied ‘f-k all’.
Ms Heer said: ‘When shown the CCTV footage of the incident and asked how he felt, he said, “Sad to see innit. Young person lose his life man, it’s sad..”
He said he did not want to watch the CCTV because it was distressing and sad to see a young kid get stabbed but he continued to deny that he was involved.’
Both of the killers pleaded guilty to Kelyan’s murder and to possessing a bladed article.
Forensic officers gather evidence on the bus following the stabbing in Woolwich in January
Police cordons were put in place amid a murder probe after the stabbing on the 472 bus
In a televised sentencing on Friday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC sentenced them to life behind bars.
The duo will be locked up for a least 15 years and 10 months before being eligible for parole. One of the youths in the dock of the Old Bailey smiled as he was sent down.
Judge Lucraft said Kenyan’s death was a ‘senseless loss’ of yet another young life to the ‘horrors of knife crime‘.
In a victim impact statement, Kelyan’s mother Marie 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.’
She told the court her son had loved food, cooking and football, and brought her flowers on her birthday.
Speaking through tears and wearing black, she said: ‘He would put music on and we’d dance together in the living room.
‘He loved Mr Bean, which we watched together, and he would laugh. I miss his laugh, miss his voice.
‘I will never see his children or be a grandmother and he will never have his own family.’
Kelyan’s mother left the hearing briefly while the video of her son’s murder was played, while members of the public sobbed loudly and hid their faced.
A vigil at St Mary Magdalene church in Woolwich on January 8 following Kelyan’s death
The heartbroken mother also revealed she had spent her son’s 15th birthday at his graveside.
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.
‘Kelyan was headed to an appointment that day and passengers on the bus witnessed his violent murder in truly harrowing circumstances. Despite the attack lasting only 15 seconds, he had little chance of survival.
‘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.
‘I hope their sentences provide some degree of comfort to Kelyan’s friends and family.’
