Two teenagers have been each sentenced to thirteen years for the manslaughter of nineteen-year-old Francois Kablan from Bermondsey.
Francois was found fatally injured in Dover Street on Wednesday, May 13, last year, at around 5.30pm by police officers responding to reports of group fight.
Despite the efforts of paramedics and London’s Air Ambulance he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem, held two days later, found he had been killed by a stab wound to the chest.
Yesterday, (Wednesday, March 31) eighteen-year-old Mohamed Kolokoh (23.02.2003) from Elephant and Castle was handed a thirteen year sentence.
He will serve eight years in jail and five on licence after being found guilty of manslaughter at Isleworth Crown Court on February 3.
A sixteen-year-old from Lambeth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also sentenced to thirteen years with the same conditions.
The two defendants were arrested near the scene. Their conviction comes after an investigation led by Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran from the Met’s homicide and specialist crime command.
DCI Kieran said: “My thoughts go out today to the family and friends of Francois, whose life was needlessly lost far too soon.
“Whatever instigated this dispute between the two groups quickly led to a situation in which the two defendants – who were both armed with knives – were not prepared to back down.
“Rather they decided to engage, leading to the most tragic of outcomes. It is clear to me that their intention was to cause at least serious harm to Francois, proving them to be dangerous offenders who have no place on our streets”
“The result today reflects the seriousness of knife crime and the impact that this has on the victims, their families and their communities.
“I hope that today’s verdict can offer them some of the closure that they deserve whilst removing two dangerous criminals from the streets of London”
“Tackling violent crime in communities across London is the Met’s top priority. We are working incredibly hard to take weapons off the street, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe.”
Three other people arrested in connection with the incident were later released with no further action.