Hammersmith murder suspects charged
Kodjo was stabbed to death on Wednesday afternoon
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Saturday, 17, Mar 2007 09:11
Four youths have been charged with the murder of teenager Kodjo Yenga on Wednesday.
Kodjo of Portland Road, Notting Hill, died from a stab wound to the heart after being attacked in Hammersmith Grove at about 17:30 GMT on Wednesday.
The teenager was taken to New Charing Cross hospital but died 45 minutes later from his injuries.
Around 40 passers-by were witness to the attack who said that Kodjo had been walking his Staffordshire bull terrier at the time, leading to speculation that he may have been targeted for his dog. They also claim they heard chants of "kill him, kill him" before he was attacked.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Maher said: "This was a tragic murder of a young boy with his whole life ahead of him."
Police investigators had previously held nine youths aged between 13 and 21. Four of the teenagers and the 21-year-old man have now been released on bail, however.
Four male youths, two aged 13, one aged 15 and a 16-year-old, have been charged by police and appeared at West London magistrates court today.
Officers are continuing to search for the murder weapon and are concentrating their investigation around the Hammersmith Grove area.
Meanwhile a makeshift memorial has been made near where Kodjo died with cards and floral tributes to the young man scattered, which the family visited today to lay flowers.
"We loved each other. We were really inseparable. I will miss him all my life," Kodjo's mother, Ladjua Lesele, said.
"I miss Kodjo and I will miss him forever. My boy was very mature for his age, polite and very neat with his character.
"My son was never a part of a gang and his name was never in the list of any gang.
"My son was a good Christian and practiced a lot in our religion."