Jermaine Cools
(Picture: Metropolitan Police)A teenager has admitted the murder of a 14-year-old schoolboy who was stabbed to death in a fight outside a south London railway station.
Victim Jermaine Cools was rushed to hospital after being stabbed multiple times in the incident close to West Croydon station on November 18, 2021, but later died from his injuries.
At the Old Bailey on Monday, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to Jermaine’s murder and now faces a life sentence.
Members of Jermaine’s family were in court to hear the guilty plea.
The killer, who was 16 at the time of the stabbing, spoke only to confirm his name and say “guilty” during the brief court hearing, standing with his arms crossed as he admitted the murder.
The court heard he has undergone psychological assessments while in custody. He is due to appear in court again on February 24 when a sentencing date is expected to be set.
The teenager had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife at the time of the fatal stabbing.
In the aftermath of Jermaine’s death, his mother Lorraine Dudek told the Evening Standard: “The only thing I want for Christmas can never happen - that is to have Jermaine back.”
She hailed her son as the “life and soul” of their household, saying: “As a family we are too devastated by losing Jermaine to even contemplate living without him.
“Jermaine was my life, we were so close and together all the time. I miss his laugh he was always laughing.
“I miss the joy he brought our family and our home without him is just sad.”
Jermaine was the 27th teenager to be killed on the streets of London in 2021, and immediately after the stabbing the Met Police appealed for the help of rush-hour commuters to help catch the killer.
“Jermaine was a central member of his family, and his parents have been left devastated and without a son”, said Detective Chief Inspector Richard Vandenbergh, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
“At the very least, they are owed an explanation for why their son was killed, and police will continue to work relentlessly to ensure the people responsible are held to account.”
