Boy, 15, must serve at least 14 years for killing at school gates

A 15-year-old boy has been locked up at least 14 years for stabbing a teenager to death outside his school gates in an act described as "pure evil".

The youth wore a mask and had lain in wait for Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes outside Capital City Academy in Willesden, west London.

The attack in Doyle Gardens came shortly before 3.30pm on January 23, as children left the school, which specialises in sports and the arts.

The defendant will be sentenced by Judge John Bevan QC at the Old Bailey (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
The defendant will be sentenced by Judge John Bevan QC at the Old Bailey (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

When he saw "happy and hardworking" GCSE student Quamari, the boy chased him armed with a large kitchen knife. The 15-year-old victim ran for his life, shouting for help and saying he was going to be stabbed. The defendant caught up with him by the school gates and stabbed Quamari three times.

Quamari was taken to hospital where he told a nurse who had attacked him before he died from his injuries. Despite wearing a mask, witnesses recognised the killer and he was arrested the next day. The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.

The trial heard the motive for the attack was unknown, but since his conviction, the defendant has admitted for the first time he carried out the attack and he knew it was Quamari.

However, prosecutor Sally O'Neill QC said: "It is not accepted that Quamari was anything to do with any sort of gang. Information from the school painted a picture of a happy, hardworking, well liked and sociable boy."

Teenager found guilty of killing Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes as he left school in #Willesdenhttps://t.co/M9lBLpAK0mpic.twitter.com/DhaTEk64vp

-- Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 30, 2017

Quamari's mother Lillian Serunkuma described the killer's actions as "pure evil" in a statement read in court. She wrote: "You never gave Quamari a second chance to defend himself. You took his life in a cold and malicious way."

The court heard the defendant had a string of convictions, including for punching a girl. In a statement expressing remorse, he said: "I want to say that I'm sorry for what I did. I don't know why I did it. I was scared and confused.

"I'm telling the truth for Quamari's mum and dad. I'm sorry. I didn't mean Quamari to get so hurt. I'm not a murderer. I'm not a waste man. I didn't want him to die. I want to have a different life but I don't know how. I'm trying."

The judge sentenced the boy to be detained for at least 14 years.

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