Anguished parents resolve to keep spirit of murdered son Keelen alive

The heartbroken parents of a son stabbed to death in October last year have issue defiant statements saying the 22-year-old’s spirit will never die.

The man responsible for the killing in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday to life imprisonment.

Keelen Wong was attacked by Kyiza Sandiford, 24, of Merton, on Tuesday, October 3 last year at around 4.45pm.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and Keelen was found with a knife injury. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he died at the scene.

Sandiford was arrested the day after the murder. He will serve a minimum of 23 years. He was found guilty on Thursday, October 17, following a trial.

Two teenage defendants were both found not guilty of the murder but one, aged 16, was found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon. The boy was given a nine month Youth Supervision Order at court. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

Keelen’s father Jemaine Wong said: “I’m grateful for the sentence that has been served. All who knew and loved Keelen are planning to have his memory last long beyond Sandiford’s time.

“However, there are no joy or winners in this scenario, only levels of loss. Community violence is a sad reality that I will have to navigate with the grace of God moving forward.

“No amount of time will account for the life of my son Keelen Wong, but my hope is that the sentence will allow the defendant time to appreciate the value of life.”

Keelen’s mother Nadine Searchwell said:“To the killer and the two individuals who stood with him they only took his flesh, his spirit is still here. He’s God’s child and God doesn’t sleep.

“I’m just blessed and grateful to be his mum and so thankful I got 22 years with my baby. My one son, I love you, know I got you. Keelen Wong’s legacy lives.”

Detective Inspector Kevin Martin, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Our thoughts remain with Keelen’s family and friends.

“Our investigation gathered compelling evidence to put the defendant before the court. My team pieced together the various movements of Sandiford on the day of the murder, including linking a blood trail at the scene to Sandiford’s self-admission to hospital.

“I have spoken with Keelen’s family and, although the trial has not provided them with the full result that they had wished for, I have expressed my sincere hope that they can obtain some degree of comfort from the sentence handed down.”

Pictured top: Keelen Wong (Picture: The Met)