Two 16-year-old boys have been handed life sentences for the machete killing of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on a Woolwich bus, highlighting ongoing challenges in tackling youth knife and weapon crime in London.
Two teenagers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal machete murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa on a London bus in Woolwich, south-east London. The boys, who are now 16 years old, received minimum terms of 15 years and 10 months after pleading guilty to Kelyan’s murder and possessing knives. The fatal attack occurred on 7 January, when Kelyan was violently stabbed 27 times on the upper deck of the Route 472 bus.
According to court evidence, Kelyan, an aspiring rapper, had boarded the bus shortly after 2 p.m. and sat at the back of the upper deck. Security footage showed the defendants boarding 20 minutes later carrying identical lengthy machetes concealed within their clothing. Without uttering a word, the pair approached Kelyan and attacked him with repeated machete blows while smiling. The entire assault lasted just 14 seconds and left Kelyan with virtually no chance to defend himself, despite having a small kitchen knife tucked into his waistband which he never accessed. Passengers on board fled in panic, with many audibly screaming during the attack.
Kelyan tried to shield himself with his school bag, and after the attack stumbled down the aisle asking for help and saying, “take me to my mum’s.” Despite the quick reactions of the bus driver, passengers, and emergency responders, Kelyan succumbed to his severe injuries, including a severed femoral artery, and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 3:30 p.m.
The defendants were arrested on 15 January following a police manhunt. CCTV footage indicated that they had been tipped off about Kelyan’s presence on the bus, suggesting premeditation. One of the machetes was later recovered from the River Thames after being discarded.
During sentencing at the Old Bailey, Kelyan’s mother gave a poignant victim impact statement, describing the profound loss and heartbreak she experienced. “I stand here not just as a mother but as a broken soul whose life changed forever the day my child’s life was taken from me by another child,” she said. She also reflected on the stark contrast between her son’s love for cooking and football and the violent circumstances of his death.
The case has reignited public concern about the prevalence of knife and machete crime among young people in London. Prosecutors emphasized the extreme violence and the merciless nature of the killing, hoping the sentences offer some solace to Kelyan’s family and community. Both defendants had previous convictions related to knife possession, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing youth knife crime.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for continued efforts in tackling weapon offences and violence involving young people in the capital, an issue that has consistently drawn significant media and political attention.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9v987d4kjo – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8057l4ye4yo – A 14-year-old boy, Kelyan Bokassa, was fatally stabbed 27 times on a London bus while returning home from school. Two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged with his murder. Both defendants appeared at the Old Bailey, where they were remanded into custody. A plea hearing is scheduled for 14 April, with a trial set for 13 October. The incident occurred on 7 January on the Route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London. Despite efforts by the bus driver, passengers, and paramedics, Kelyan was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.
- https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-05-23/teenagers-admit-machete-murder-of-14-year-old-boy-on-bus – Two teenagers have admitted to the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed on a London bus. The attack occurred on 7 January on the Route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London. Kelyan, an aspiring rapper, was stabbed around 27 times. The defendants, both aged 16, pleaded guilty to murder and possessing a knife. They are scheduled to be sentenced on 25 July. The case has drawn attention to the issue of knife crime in London.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy75nzk4y1vo – Two teenagers have pleaded guilty to the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was attacked with machetes on a bus in south-east London. The incident took place on 7 January on the Route 472 bus in Woolwich. The defendants, both aged 16, also admitted to carrying a bladed weapon. Both had previous convictions, including for possessing a knife in a public place. Sentencing is set for 25 July. The case has highlighted concerns over knife crime among young people in London.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/woolwich-london-emergency-services-old-bailey-met-b1240003.html – Two youths are facing life sentences for the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was stabbed 27 times with machetes on a bus in Woolwich. The attack occurred on 7 January on the Route 472 bus. The defendants, now aged 16, appeared to have been tipped off that Kelyan was on the bus before they boarded and attacked him. One of the machetes was discarded in the River Thames but later recovered. The case has raised concerns about knife crime in London.
- https://news.sky.com/story/two-teenagers-plead-guilty-to-murdering-schoolboy-in-machete-bus-attack-13373352 – Two teenagers have pleaded guilty to murdering 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa in a machete attack on a London bus. The incident occurred on 7 January on the Route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London. Kelyan was stabbed around 27 times with two ‘lengthy machetes’. The defendants, both aged 16, also pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon. Sentencing is scheduled for 25 July. The case has highlighted the issue of knife crime among young people in London.
- https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-01-16/two-teenagers-charged-with-murder-of-14-year-old-boy-on-london-bus – Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed on a London bus. The incident occurred on 7 January on the Route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London. Kelyan was stabbed repeatedly on his journey home and died from a severed femoral artery. The defendants, aged 15 and 16, appeared in court and were remanded in custody. A 44-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the sentencing occurring on 25 July 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 23 May 2025, when the teenagers admitted to the murder. The report is not republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. There are no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes compared to earlier versions. No similar content has appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material. Therefore, the freshness score is 10.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Kelyan’s mother and the bus driver are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. Therefore, the quotes score is 10.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the BBC, a reputable organisation. This strengthens the credibility of the report. Therefore, the source reliability score is 10.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative’s claims are plausible and consistent with known facts. The sentencing of the teenagers is covered by multiple reputable outlets, including the BBC. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with typical news reporting. There is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. The tone is appropriate for the subject matter. Therefore, the plausibility score is 10.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, original, and originates from a reputable organisation. The claims are plausible and consistent with known facts, with no signs of disinformation. Therefore, the overall assessment is PASS with high confidence.
