Jermaine Cools was with his brother when he was attacked outside a chicken shop
A teenager who murdered a 14-year-old boy, London’s youngest stabbing victim in 2021, has been detained for life.
Marques Walker previously admitted attacking Jermaine Cools outside a chicken shop near West Croydon station, south London, on 18 November that year.
Appearing at the Old Bailey, the 17-year-old became the first youth to be sentenced on television as he was ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years.
The court heard Jermaine had died in “a senseless attack”.
Walker, who was 16 at the time of the killing, was sentenced for a minimum of four years for a separate offence of GBH, which happened in July 2022 when he was on remand in custody at HMP Feltham.
He was also detained for eight months for possession of a dangerous weapon, with all sentences to run concurrently.
Image source, Met Police
Marques Walker was ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years
The court heard Walker had a history of carrying deadly weapons and had been on bail for carrying a Zombie knife six weeks before the killing.
Judge Sarah Munro KC, said: “This is yet another case of the senseless murder of a young teenager committed for reasons no mature adult could fathom.”
She said Walker stabbed Jermaine “mercilessly” and the victim “must have been terrified and in agony”.
Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC told the court: “It is clear that Jermaine Cools did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was unarmed, he was on the floor, and he was totally vulnerable.
“He was stabbed a total of seven times by Marques Walker in a senseless attack of extreme ferocity.”
Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Related Topics
Related Internet Links
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
