An 18-year-old has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering a 17-year-old weapons dealer in broad daylight before pushing him into a canal in west London.
Elijah Gookol-Mely was found guilty of killing 17-year-old Victor Lee near the Grand Union Canal in Scrubs Lane. The Old Bailey handed down a minimum term of 20 years on Friday.
The court heard that on 25 June 2023, Victor was stabbed and pushed into the canal at around 5.30pm. Despite swift rescue efforts by locals and emergency services, he died at the scene.
Detectives linked Gookol-Mely to the crime through extensive analysis of mobile phone data, CCTV footage, witness accounts and forensic evidence. A knife recovered from the defendant's home contained Victor's blood and Gookol-Mely's DNA.
The investigation revealed that robbery was the motive, with Gookol-Mely stealing Victor's bike and rucksack, believed to have contained knives.
Victor's family, who endured the trial's harrowing details, described him as shy, introspective and vulnerable to exploitation. They shared poignant statements reflecting their loss.
Victor's mother said: "In June 2023, my whole life immediately changed, the very meaning of life was shaken…. There was only emptiness and darkness around me. Victor was a child of love, loved by many people who valued him. Victor lives on in my heart, and in the hearts of those who love him."
His father expressed frustration with the justice system, saying: "I do not believe we have been served by the court system or had justice for the killing of our son Victor. We will have to live with that for the rest of our lives."
Victor's sister spoke of cherished memories and the void left by his absence: "I go to bed at night thinking about Victor's last moments and what he must have felt, cold and alone, deep in that canal with unimaginable pain all over his body."
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who led the investigation, said: "Victor was a 17-year-old young man who was not directly involved with gangs or criminality. He had his life ahead of him and his family have been torn apart by what happened to him, in the most shocking, brutal and disturbing circumstances.
"During the trial Victor's family listened to deeply traumatising evidence of the violent acts committed against him. No sentence can ever bring Victor back or compensate for the loss of a son, brother and friend, but I and my team are glad to see that the term handed down today means that Elijah Gookol-Mely will spend 20 years in prison, where he cannot destroy another family."
