An October trial date has been set for two teenagers accused of the brutal murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed on a bus in Woolwich earlier this year.
Incident Details
Kelyan, an aspiring rapper, was attacked on the route 472 bus on Woolwich Church Street just before 2:30 p.m. on January 7. The attack left him with 27 stab wounds, including a severed femoral artery. Despite the efforts of medics, he died shortly after they arrived.
Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged with Kelyan’s murder.
Court Proceedings
During a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC scheduled a plea hearing for April 14, with a provisional trial date set for October 13.
Prosecutor Tom Little KC described the attack as a premeditated assault, stating:
“It is clear this is not a form of spontaneous incident. The two defendants must have known the deceased was on the bus.
“They approach him and almost instantaneously the two of them pull out machetes and attacked the deceased. He is stabbed or attempted to be stabbed on a total of 27 occasions before the defendants made their way off the bus.”
One of the machetes is alleged to have been discarded in the River Thames following the attack.
Defendants and Victim’s Family
The defendants, who cannot be named due to their ages, were remanded in custody. Members of Kelyan’s family attended the hearing.
Community Impact
Kelyan’s murder has sent shockwaves through the Woolwich community, prompting calls for action against knife crime and violence among youth.
Further updates are expected as the case progresses, with both the prosecution and defense preparing for the trial later this year.
