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Two teenage boys have been sentenced for the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed on a bus in Woolwich in January. The sentencing follows a harrowing investigation by the Metropolitan Police, which uncovered a premeditated and violent ambush carried out with machetes.
The two 16-year-old defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were each sentenced at the Old Bailey to a minimum of 15 years and 10 months for murder, with an additional 12 months for knife possession, to be served concurrently.
They had previously pleaded guilty to the murder on 23 May 2025.
A Calculated and Vicious Attack
The attack occurred on Tuesday, 7 January, aboard a bus on Woolwich Church Street. CCTV footage played in court showed the moment the boys spotted Kelyan and, within seconds, launched a frenzied assault.
Both teenagers brandished large machetes and stabbed Kelyan more than eight times, attempting to strike him at least 27 times in total. Witnesses on the bus were left screaming and scrambling to escape the scene.
Passersby flagged down police officers, who were first on the scene to administer emergency first aid. Despite their efforts, and those of paramedics who arrived shortly after, Kelyan was pronounced dead a short time later.
Investigation & Arrest
Police quickly recovered CCTV footage from the bus and surrounding streets, showing the suspects fleeing and later discarding the murder weapons in a nearby river. A manhunt was launched and both suspects were arrested at a property in Eltham in the early hours of 15 January.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, who led the investigation, said:
“This case has been deeply troubling for all involved. The fact we’re seeing so many teenagers like Kelyan die should be at the forefront of the minds of every politician, every policy maker, and everyone who wants better for children growing up in London.”
“Kelyan’s mother, Marie, has been spared the emotional turmoil of a trial, but the pain of her loss remains unimaginable.”
Heartbreaking Plea from Kelyan’s Mother
Marie Bokassa, Kelyan’s mother, issued a powerful statement following sentencing:
“My child had a name, it was Kelyan, a future, a heartbeat full of hope. That life was not theirs to take…
They broke a family, they buried a future, and they left me, a mother dead inside with wounds no justice can ever heal.”
She urged young people to reject knife violence:
“To the young people who carry knives, I beg you to stop… think of the mothers who will cry every night like I do.”
Call for Collective Action
DCI Lee called on society to confront the reality of youth violence:
“The harsh reality in London is that violence disproportionately affects young Black men and boys. Without a collective effort, we won’t be able to tackle knife crime in its entirety.”
