Schoolboy, 14, was stabbed about 27 times on London bus, court hears

A 14-year-old boy was stabbed about 27 times on a London bus on the way home from school, a court has heard.

Kelyan Bokassa was fatally injured on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London, on Tuesday last week.

Two boys, aged 15 and 16 – who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Bromley Youth Court in separate hearings on Thursday afternoon each charged with Kelyan’s murder.

The court heard that the victim was stabbed repeatedly on his journey home and died from a severed femoral artery.

Both defendants, wearing grey sweatshirts, spoke to confirm their identity and were remanded in custody in a youth detention centre.

The pair are due to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday.

A 44-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation.

Police were called to Woolwich Church Street, near Woolwich Ferry, just before 2.30pm on January 7.

Kelyan, an aspiring rapper, died shortly after medics arrived at the scene.

His mother Mary Bokassa said her son was kind and caring and liked football, adding: “I can’t believe he is gone. I cannot believe it.”

At a vigil held last week at a church overlooking the bus stop where he was stabbed, one of Kelyan’s friends said the boy had a “pure heart” and would “always be there for you”.