A person who stabbed a ‘shy’ 17-year-old boy to demise in broad daylight earlier than dumping his physique right into a canal has been discovered responsible of homicide.
Victor Lee was stabbed twice within the again and as soon as within the chest on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal in west London in a ‘shockingly violent assault’ on June 25 final yr.
Regardless of native folks rapidly rescuing him from the water and emergency remedy by law enforcement officials and ambulance colleagues, he died on the scene.
Elijah Gokool-Mely, 18, was convicted of murdering {the teenager} and robbing him after a jury on the Outdated Bailey deliberated for greater than 16 hours.
Met Police detectives established that theft was the motive for the brutal assault with Gookol-Mely stealing Victor’s bike and his rucksack, which officers imagine contained various knives.
Elijah Gokool-Mely, 18, was convicted of murdering {the teenager} and robbing him after a jury on the Outdated Bailey deliberated for greater than 16 hours
Victor Lee (pictured) was stabbed twice within the again and as soon as within the chest on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal in west London in a ‘shockingly violent assault’ on June 25 final yr
Police divers within the canal below Scrubs Lane in west London, following the deadly stabbing
Victor – who was described by his household as shy, simply manipulated and liable to being exploited by others – had met his killer having developed an curiosity in shopping for weapons on-line which he wished to promote for revenue.
The trial heard how he had purchased knives and a crossbow on the web within the months earlier than his demise, which he meant to promote on.
Officers imagine that Victor didn’t totally perceive the hurt that others may trigger with the weapons that he appeared to take pleasure in buying and selling.
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy have been additionally every charged with homicide and theft however they have been each acquitted of each counts on Monday.
The prosecution informed jurors throughout the trial that Victor seems to have met up with the three defendants on the towpath at round 3.30pm and bought them a crossbow.
It was stated the identical group then met for a second time on the identical location at round 5.30pm, after Victor was requested if he had any knives to promote, which is when the assault occurred.
There have been no witnesses to the killing however one witness noticed the tallest of the three boys – Gokool-Mely – pushing Victor into the canal, the court docket heard.
The Met’s investigation linked Gokool-Mely to the homicide by means of in depth evaluation of cell phones and the related knowledge, in addition to CCTV from the world across the crime scene, accounts from witnesses and forensic proof obtained from the scene and from Victor’s stolen bag discarded close by.
A knife was recovered from Gookol-Mely’s dwelling handle, on which Victor’s blood and the defendant’s DNA was discovered.
The Met’s murder investigation, led by Specialist Crime Command detectives, made speedy progress, and Gookol-Mely was arrested together with two different youngsters on June 30, 2023. Officers charged every of them the next day with homicide and theft.
Gokool-Mely will likely be sentenced on the Outdated Bailey on Friday, July 19.
Met Police detectives established that theft was the motive for the brutal assault with Gookol-Mely stealing Victor’s bike and his rucksack, which officers imagine contained various knives
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, the senior investigating officer who led the investigation, stated: ‘This conviction was the results of a tenacious and completely skilled police investigation, supported by a variety of specialists and companions together with the Crown Prosecution Service.
‘Nonetheless, I would really like the main focus at this time to be on the tragedy that Victor’s household have suffered and on the half that younger folks with the ability to simply purchase knives and different weapons performed in his demise.
‘Victor was a younger man who was in a roundabout way concerned with gangs or criminality – he had an curiosity in shopping for, fixing and promoting bikes. He had vitality and drive however sadly not sufficient knowledge.
‘His household have informed me that he had an incapacity to correctly assess conditions, folks or threats.
‘When Victor crossed paths with the defendant, he took benefit of him and in the end subjected him to a sudden, unprovoked and shockingly violent assault.
The crime scene on the Grand Union Canal, exhibiting the forensic tent and medical paraphernalia
‘Having labored so intensely on this case – talking to Victor’s household and fascinated by his life and tragic demise – it’ll eternally be a supply of remorse to me that this weak however unbiased younger man was in a position to purchase weapons on-line just by altering the date of delivery in his passport.
‘Having beforehand bought knives, Victor introduced a crossbow on-line within the days earlier than he was killed, and appears to have bought this to his killer at round 3pm on the day of his homicide. He was robbed and murdered when looking for to promote knives to him later that day.
‘Apparently unable to understand the devastating penalties of his actions, he in all probability regarded this as an fascinating scheme to make some cash. However, having met his killer after arranging to promote the weapons by way of Snapchat, this scheme sparked the occasions which value him his life.
‘Victor had his life forward of him and his household have been torn aside by what occurred to him. They’re understandably nonetheless struggling to return to phrases along with his homicide, and the occasions that led to his demise at such a younger age. My ideas are with them at this time, and I can solely hope that at this time’s conviction can deliver them some small measure of consolation.’
