A TEEN has been captured on CCTV cycling on a bike he had stolen from a boy after murdering him in broad daylight.
Elijah Gokool-Mely, 18, stabbed Victor Lee, 17, twice in the back and once in the chest on June 25 last year.
Elijah Gokool-Mely was captured on CCTV cycling on a bike he had stolen from Victor Lee
PAGokool-Mely, 18, stabbed Victor (above), 17, twice in the back and once in the chest[/caption]
He then pushed him into the Grand Union Canal in west London
He then pushed him into the Grand Union Canal, near Wormwood Scrubs Park, in west London.
Gokool-Mely was convicted of the murder after a jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for more than 16 hours.
Jurors also found him guilty of robbing the victim of his bike and rucksack.
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were each charged with murder and robbery but they were both acquitted of both counts on Monday.
Two men living on houseboats on the other side of the water were able to haul Victor out on to the bank but he bled to death within minutes.
The trial heard Victor had bought knives and a crossbow on the internet in the months before his death and had been selling them on for a profit.
The prosecution told jurors during the trial that Victor appears to have met up with the three defendants at the towpath at around 3.30pm and sold them a crossbow.
It was said the same group then met for a second time at the same location at around 5.30pm, after Victor was asked if he had any knives to sell, which is when the attack occurred.
There were no witnesses to the killing but one witness saw the tallest of the three boys – Gokool-Mely – pushing Victor into the canal, the court heard.
Gokool-Mely will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on July 19.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, the senior investigating Metropolitan Police officer, said: “Victor was a young man who was not directly involved with gangs or criminality – he had an interest in buying, fixing and selling bikes.
“He had energy and drive but sadly not enough wisdom. His family have told me that he had an inability to properly assess situations, people or threats.
“When Victor crossed paths with the defendant, he took advantage of him and ultimately subjected him to a sudden, unprovoked and shockingly violent assault.”
Gokool-Mely was convicted of the murder
Jurors also found him guilty of robbing the victim of his bike and rucksack
There were no witnesses to the killing