Teen in west London jailed for life after vicious canal murder
A 17-year-old weapons dealer was killed by an 18-year-old in broad daylight in west London, and the 18-year-old was given a life sentence.
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,according to local media. 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
