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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Life sentences for boy's killers | Life sentences for boy's killers |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two teenagers found guilty of murdering 16-year-old schoolboy Kodjo Yenga in west London have been given life sentences at the Old Bailey. | Two teenagers found guilty of murdering 16-year-old schoolboy Kodjo Yenga in west London have been given life sentences at the Old Bailey. |
| Kodjo was stabbed in the heart in March 2007 after being ambushed by a gang, including two girls, armed with knives and bats in Hammersmith. | Kodjo was stabbed in the heart in March 2007 after being ambushed by a gang, including two girls, armed with knives and bats in Hammersmith. |
| The boys, aged 14 and 17, were ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years each. | The boys, aged 14 and 17, were ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years each. |
| Three other youths, aged 14, 15 and 17, convicted of manslaughter, were given 10-year custodial sentences. | Three other youths, aged 14, 15 and 17, convicted of manslaughter, were given 10-year custodial sentences. |
| Tirrell Davis, 17, from Shepherd's Bush, west London, and Brandon Richmond, 14, from Hammersmith, were both sentenced to life for murder. | |
| Michael Williams, 14, from West Kensington, west London, Jamel Bridgeman, 15, from Shepherd's Bush, and Kurtis Yemoh, 17, also from Shepherd's Bush, were all sentenced to 15 years for manslaughter. | |
| I implore you all, please please focus on your education, contribute positively to your community Ladjua Lesele, Kodjo's mother | I implore you all, please please focus on your education, contribute positively to your community Ladjua Lesele, Kodjo's mother |
| It emerged that the 17-year-old found guilty of manslaughter was in court just hours before Kodjo's death. | 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 he was 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 he was arrested for the theft of a bicycle and for intimidating a witness. |
| He returned to the streets to launch the attack on Kodjo which left the teenager dying in his girlfriend's arms. | He returned to the streets to launch the attack on Kodjo which left the teenager dying in his girlfriend's arms. |
| As passers-by tried to help, the gang, some of them in their school uniforms, ran away laughing. | As passers-by tried to help, the gang, some of them in their school uniforms, ran away laughing. |
| The court heard that Kodjo went into the area after being challenged to a fight by one youth and was then ambushed by others. | |
| He had said to the youth with the knife: "Do you think you are a big boy because you have a knife to me?" | |
| He was told: "I don't care. I want you to respect me," the court heard. | He was told: "I don't care. I want you to respect me," the court heard. |
| 'Shocked Londoners' | |
| Speaking outside the court on behalf of Kodjo's mother Ladjua Lesele, Cllr Marianne Alapini said: "Today's long sentences set an example and send out a very strong message. | Speaking outside the court on behalf of Kodjo's mother Ladjua Lesele, Cllr Marianne Alapini said: "Today's long sentences set an example and send out a very strong message. |
| "I would call upon all young people to stop using weapons, to avoid being in a gang, and to stop all violent acts. | "I would call upon all young people to stop using weapons, to avoid being in a gang, and to stop all violent acts. |
| "Instead, I implore you all, please please focus on your education, contribute positively to your community, and most importantly, do the things that will make your family and parents proud of you." | "Instead, I implore you all, please please focus on your education, contribute positively to your community, and most importantly, do the things that will make your family and parents proud of you." |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson, MP, who made tackling gun and knife crime a priority during his campaign, said: "The brutal murder of Kodjo Yenga shocked Londoners. | |
| "It is right that those who commit such terrible crimes are punished and it is right that the courts have handed down life sentences for these individuals responsible." | |
| The family also announced plans to launch the Kodjo Yenga Trust and Foundation to help disadvantaged young people go to university. | |
| The trust will be launched with a concert in Kensington & Chelsea on Kodjo's birthday, 30 July. |