Teens Jailed for Fatal Woolwich Bus Stabbing

Two 16-year-old boys were sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 15 years and 10 months, for the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on January 7 on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, southeast London. The teens stabbed Kelyan 27 times with machetes, cornering him at the back of the bus in front of horrified passengers, while Kelyan, unable to reach his own knife, tried to protect himself and cried out for his mother. The attackers, who cannot be named due to their age, pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a knife. Judge Mark Lucraft KC described the killing as a 'senseless loss' and a stark example of the 'horrors of knife crime.' Kelyan’s mother stated he had been groomed by gangs from a young age and criticized authorities for not providing enough support. The case underscores the ongoing severity of youth knife violence in London and its devastating impact.