Two youths who ambushed their teenage victim and fatally knifed him in a "cowardly" attack in east London have been convicted of murder.
Chima Osuji, 17, was stabbed in Longshaw Road, Chingford, after his attackers lay in wait armed with knives, using a van for cover.
They then rushed the teenager and inflicted fatal wounds.
The pair appeared for trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court and were found guilty of murder on Monday.
Both will be sentenced at the same court on 1 March.
Detectives used mobile phone data and CCTV footage to prove the killers, both aged 16 at the time of the incident and who cannot be named for legal reasons, were responsible for the fatal attack.
Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, who led the investigation, said: “By methodically unpicking the events leading up to the attack on Chima, we could establish both teenagers conspired to carry out this cowardly assault.
“After spending the evening together, they took a minicab to Longshaw Road in Chingford and lay in wait armed with knives, using parked vans as cover, before ambushing an unsuspecting Chima.
“Within seconds, the pair had fled to the waiting cab and left the scene, leaving Chima dying on the pavement. The driver recalls the pair in jubilant mood, a sickening comparison to the devastating scene they had left behind.
“Neither of them has ever admitted why they carried out this attack. From the evidence gathered it is clear this was not a chance encounter but a planned act of violence that had catastrophic consequences.”
The attack took place on at 9.20pm on 10 April last year, the court had heard.
Chima was found collapsed on the pavement in Longshaw Road suffering stab injuries. He died at the scene despite paramedics battling to save his life.
Detectives quickly established through initial CCTV work that two males had carried out the attack.
The victim was with another teenager at the time of the attack who had managed to flee unharmed and he was able to assist police in identifying one of the killers.
A sword was also recovered at the scene and although it was not used to inflict injury, it did contain a fingerprint of the other teenage attacker.
Analysis of phone records tracked the pair’s movements to the murder scene.
Both teenagers refused to answer any questions while in police custody.
