A 14-year-old schoolboy stabbed to death on the back seat of a London bus was knifed 27 times by teenagers armed with machetes, the Old Bailey has heard.
Kelyan Bokassa was seated on the top deck of a 472 bus in Woolwich Church Street when he was attacked.
Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have now been charged with the murder, at just before 2.30pm on January 7.
On Monday, the Old Bailey heard that the alleged killers were “armed with lengthy machetes” when they boarded the bus.
Kelyan was already on board and was “stabbed or attempted to be stabbed a total of 27 times”, said prosecutor Tom Little KC.
Fellow bus passengers tried to intervene to save the young victim by moving him to a seat on the lower deck off the bus while the driver called 999.
But Kelyan, an aspiring rapper, died at the scene from his wounds.
He had been on his way home from school when he was attacked.
An coroner’s court heard the 14-year-old died from one of his wounds to his right thigh.
On Monday, one of the murder accused appeared in court over a videolink from HMP Feltham.
He spoke only to confirm his identity, before Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, adjourned the case for a plea hearing on April 14.
Members of Kelyan’s family were in court for the hearing, which included details of the stabbing.
The second defendant is due to appear in court in person later.
A provisional trial has been set for October 13.
Both boys are set to be remanded in custody to await their trial.
