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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Five guilty of Kodjo gang murder | Five guilty of Kodjo gang murder |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Five teenagers have been found guilty of killing 16-year-old schoolboy Kodjo Yenga. | Five teenagers have been found guilty of killing 16-year-old schoolboy Kodjo Yenga. |
| The gang, armed with knives, bats and a bull terrier, screamed "kill him" as they ambushed Kodjo last March. | The gang, armed with knives, bats and a bull terrier, screamed "kill him" as they ambushed Kodjo last March. |
| One said he was in a confrontation with Kodjo in Hammersmith, west London, and did not expect others to join in. | One said he was in a confrontation with Kodjo in Hammersmith, west London, and did not expect others to join in. |
| Two youths, aged 14 and 17, were found guilty of murder and three others, aged 17, 14 and 15, were found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. | Two youths, aged 14 and 17, were found guilty of murder and three others, aged 17, 14 and 15, were found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. |
| None of the defendants or young witnesses can be named because of their ages. | None of the defendants or young witnesses can be named because of their ages. |
| Objected to bail | Objected to bail |
| After the verdicts, it emerged that the 17-year-old found guilty of manslaughter was in court just hours before Kodjo's death. | After the verdicts, it emerged that the 17-year-old found guilty of manslaughter was in court just hours before Kodjo's death. |
| Despite objections from the police he had been given bail by magistrates after being arrested for the theft of a bicycle and for intimidating a witness. | Despite objections from the police he had been given bail by magistrates after being arrested for the theft of a bicycle and for intimidating a witness. |
| He was part of a gang that attacked Kodjo that afternoon. | He was part of a gang that attacked Kodjo that afternoon. |
| Please don't die, please don't die Kodjo Yenga's girlfriend class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/7337415.stm">Kodjo's mother's tearful tribute | |
| Prosecutor Sir Allan Green QC said a woman saw a group of about 10 youths chasing Kodjo, who was running away. | Prosecutor Sir Allan Green QC said a woman saw a group of about 10 youths chasing Kodjo, who was running away. |
| "She could hear a few members of the group shouting 'catch him, kill him'," he told the court. | "She could hear a few members of the group shouting 'catch him, kill him'," he told the court. |
| The schoolboy was stabbed in the heart and collapsed in the street, where his 15-year-old girlfriend found him. | The schoolboy was stabbed in the heart and collapsed in the street, where his 15-year-old girlfriend found him. |
| She said: "I put his head in my lap and I was crying and I said 'Please don't die, please don't die'." | She said: "I put his head in my lap and I was crying and I said 'Please don't die, please don't die'." |
| She said she had pleaded with Kodjo not to go into the area after he was challenged to a fight by one youth. | She said she had pleaded with Kodjo not to go into the area after he was challenged to a fight by one youth. |
| Cold-blooded children | Cold-blooded children |
| He had said: "I'm not scared of anyone. If you want to fight, let's do this." | He had said: "I'm not scared of anyone. If you want to fight, let's do this." |
| The attackers were young members of the MDP, Murder Dem Pussies or Money, Drugs, Power, a local gang. | The attackers were young members of the MDP, Murder Dem Pussies or Money, Drugs, Power, a local gang. |
| A trademark of the MDP is to attack boys by suggesting a one-to-one fight outside their local area, culminating in a "serious assault with various weapons", according to the prosecution. | A trademark of the MDP is to attack boys by suggesting a one-to-one fight outside their local area, culminating in a "serious assault with various weapons", according to the prosecution. |
| Outside court, Kodjo's mother, Ladjua Lesele, said: "These cold-blooded children tormented and stabbed my wonderful and innocent son whilst they screamed 'kill him, kill him' during his calculated murder that was premeditated and planned. | Outside court, Kodjo's mother, Ladjua Lesele, said: "These cold-blooded children tormented and stabbed my wonderful and innocent son whilst they screamed 'kill him, kill him' during his calculated murder that was premeditated and planned. |
| "I only have one thing to say to those who murdered Kodjo - as you spilled and touched his blood, no matter how many times you wash your hands, his blood will stay on them for as long as you live." | "I only have one thing to say to those who murdered Kodjo - as you spilled and touched his blood, no matter how many times you wash your hands, his blood will stay on them for as long as you live." |
| A sixth youth was cleared of all charges. The guilty teenagers will be sentenced on 9 May. | A sixth youth was cleared of all charges. The guilty teenagers will be sentenced on 9 May. |