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Gang jailed for teenager's murder Gang jailed for teenager's murder
(30 minutes later)
Six gang members have been given life terms for murdering a 14-year-old boy in a park near his east London home.Six gang members have been given life terms for murdering a 14-year-old boy in a park near his east London home.
Shaquille Smith was with two friends near London Fields in Hackney when the gang attacked them last August.Shaquille Smith was with two friends near London Fields in Hackney when the gang attacked them last August.
They were given minimum terms of 15 to 18 years by the Old Bailey judge, who labelled them "arrogant cowards".They were given minimum terms of 15 to 18 years by the Old Bailey judge, who labelled them "arrogant cowards".
George Amponsah, 19, Godiowe Dufeal, 20, Amisi Khama, 18, Freddie Amponsah, 17, Kadean Dias, 18, and Leon Atwell, 17, were found guilty last month.George Amponsah, 19, Godiowe Dufeal, 20, Amisi Khama, 18, Freddie Amponsah, 17, Kadean Dias, 18, and Leon Atwell, 17, were found guilty last month.
The six gang members, including two brothers, were sentenced one by one to avoid violence in the dock. The killers, including two brothers, were sentenced one by one to avoid violence in the dock.
Shaquille was stabbed to death by the gang who were on bicycles and who had "violence on their minds", the Old Bailey heard. 'Mindless violence'
The killers, members of the London Fields Boys, and all from Hackney, east London, stabbed the 14-year-old to death while he was sitting on a park bench, talking about going on holiday to Jamaica. Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting, said: "Shaquille was an utterly blameless boy who said nothing and did nothing to anyone in the park to cause offence, let alone justify being murdered."
The target of the gang, all members of the London Field Boys, was the 17-year-old friend with Shaquille, who had been challenged about his brother.
When he confirmed his identity, one of the gang told him: "Well, you are getting it."
But the friend ran off with his dog and the attackers turned on Shaquille and the girl, the court heard.
In less than two minutes, the girl was cut across the neck and face and Shaquille was killed.
Outside court Det Ch Insp Carl Mehta said: "The defendants are gang members who can never understand the huge amount of harm and grief they cause to families and communities by the mindless violence they inflict on others."
George Amponsah and Dufeal were told they would have to serve 18 years and the other killers were given 15-year minimum terms.