Shenai Raif

Two teenagers were yesterday given life sentences for the murder of a schoolboy.

They were part of a gang which chased 16-year-old Kodjo Yenga shouting "kill him, kill him".

Kodjo was left dying in his girlfriend's arms after being stabbed in the heart in Hammersmith, west London, in March last year.

He had been ambushed by about a dozen youngsters, including two girls, who armed themselves with knives, bats and even a bull terrier.

As passers-by tried to help, the gang, some wearing school uniforms, ran away laughing.

Judge Christopher Moss ordered that Tirrell Davis, 17, and Brandon Richmond, 14, should be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure. He told the Old Bailey they should serve a minimum term of 15 years.

Three other youths, Kurtis Yemoh, 17, Jamel Bridgeman and Michel Williams, both 15, were given 10 years' detention with five years on extended licence after their release.

The five, who had denied killing Kodjo, were all from Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush, London.

Kodjo went into the area after being challenged to a fight by one youth and ambushed by others. He had told the youth with the knife: "Do you think you are a big boy because you have a knife to me?"

He was told: "I don't care. I want you to respect me."

Kodjo's mother said her son's killers would always have "blood on their hands".

Ladjua Lesele said in a statement to the court: "These cold-blooded children tormented and stabbed my wonderful and innocent son.

"I only have one thing to say to those who murdered Kodjo - as you spilled and touched his blood, no matter how many times you wash your hands, his blood will stay on them for as long as you live."

She added: "I stand before you as a broken mother whose prayers, dreams and hopes for the bright future of her beloved son were cruelly and needlessly crushed when he was brutally murdered."

Kodjo was a bright student at a Roman Catholic school who loved music and was expected to go to university.

The attackers were young members of MDP, a local gang. A trademark is to attack boys who are not part of the gang by suggesting a one-to-one fight outside their local area, culminating in a "serious assault with various weapons", according to the prosecution.

Sir Allan Green, QC, prosecuting said a local teacher had seen a boy with the knife. He said: "She heard a girl shout he's going to stab him', then the same girl shouted: He stabbed him'.

"There was wet blood on the blade of the knife. The boy looked proud, as if he had done something by way of an accomplishment."

Judge Moss told the youths that it was not clear who had wielded the knife, but the death was another example of the "needless loss of another young life by the use of knives on the streets of our cities by youngsters like you".

He added: "All of you come from decent and caring backgrounds which makes the situation all the more worrying."

Detective superintendent Matthew Horne warned outside court that youths could be jailed for killing even if they did not inflict the fatal injury.

He said: "My message is this: if you go out with your friends looking for a fight, looking to rob or seriously hurt someone, then you are as guilty as your mate who inflicts the fatal blow."

'I put his head in my lap and said, don't die'

Kodjo Yenga was found dying in the street by his 15-year-old girlfriend who cradled him as she pleaded for him not to die.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had told the court: "I ran straight up to Kodjo. He was holding his heart. He was lying and I turned him over. I put his head in my lap and I was crying and I said, Please don't die, please don't die'.

"There was blood coming out of his mouth. I rocked him. He was just moaning, making noises."

The girl said she had pleaded with Kodjo not to go into the area after being challenged to a fight by one youth then being ambushed by others.

As the girl was held around the neck by one boy who threatened to stab her, others attacked Kodjo after he tripped over while trying to get away.

She said: "I was screaming, Please don't stab him, please don't stab him'."

Kodjo was left lying on the ground bleeding heavily from a wound to his chest.

The girl told a police officer that she had been dating Kodjo, whom she described as "loving and charming", for 19 months before the attack.