15-year-old boy has been found guilty of murder after stabbing a teenager in the neck during a fight.
The boy was convicted of the murder of 17-year-old Folajimi Orebiyi after he was fatally stabbed in Notting Hill on 3 July, 2016.
He was convicted at the Old Bailey on 24 January.
Folajimi, known as Fola and from Notting Hill, died after being attacked while out with a friend on Sunday 3rd July. The pair were out in Colville Square, W11, to meet up with friends.
They were then approached by a group of boys – some of whom were known to Fola – and a verbal disagreement took place.
As the abuse escalated, Fola agreed to fight one of the boys.
As the fight began, a witness saw a boy jump on Fola’s back. Fola was then stabbed in the neck and ran off towards Portobello Road where he collapsed.
Officers attended the scene and immediately administered first aid and CPR.
London’s Air Ambulance were called and arrived a short time later but Fola was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation was launched by the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC)
A post-mortem examination took place on 5 July at Westminster Mortuary. Cause of death was given as a stab wound.
‘D’ was arrested on 5 July 2016, after extensive enquiries to locate him. He was remanded in custody to be sentenced at The Old Bailey on 10 February.
= A 16-year-old boy [C] was acquitted of murder.
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Statement issued by Fola’s mother, Yinka Bankole:
“On 3 July 2016 my son was taken from me. Folajimi Orebiyi, a vibrant and intelligent young man, with a bright future ahead of him.
“Fola, as he was fondly called, was a Sixth Form Student, passionately looking forward to University and was working hard on his grades to achieve it.
“A week before his life was cut short, he visited several universities to ensure he made the right choice.
“He had plans to study accounting and maths was his favourite subject.
“He had no gang affiliation nor had he been in trouble with the law.
“He was a lovely young man who was loved by anybody that had contact with him.
“I single-handedly raised Fola from the age of ten months old until the day his life was cut short.
“I was in labour for 23 hours with him, yet it took less than four minutes to stab him to death, while several youths stood there and didn’t ask for help or assist him, and Fola he bled to death.
“To me this is the most devastating moment of my life. Knowing that I wasn’t there to protect my son, I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. Yet to the system, just another figure added to the statistics.
“In an act that took less than four minutes, several lives were ruined, including that of the boy that has been found guilty of Fola’s mureder. No length of time will be long enough for what he did.
“The devastation and tragic loss of Fola has affected myself, his two brothers, grandparents and all of the family, friends, community and members of the church.
“What are the Government doing about this knife crime that seems to have taken over the streets of London?
“To those young who stood and watched while Fola was stabbed, then ran away and left him to die, you might have gotten away with the law, but I want you to know that you have Fola’s blood on your hands. You all know who you are, and what part you played in my son’s death, and you will have to live with this upon you conscience.
“The newspapers and the media are more and more frequently featuring incidents involving violent knife crime, and only yesterday I am sad to read that a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in London. How many more of our children have to die before the Government act?
“I would like to thank the police investigation team and the Crown Prosecution Service who have been involved with the investigation into Fola’s murder.”
Source: Met Police Newdesk