Family of ‘playful’ boy who was stabbed to death speak out as murderer jailed

The family of a “playful” 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death last year have spoken out after his murderer was jailed.

Elijah Gookol-Mely, 18, of Australia Road, Shepherd’s Bush, was sentenced to life in prison at the Old Bailey on Friday, having previously been found guilty of the murder and robbery of Victor Lee.

He will serve a minimum term of 20 years.

Victor’s father said: “The death of Victor is like a festering wound that you try to keep clean but won’t heal. We will never have him back, be able to have a discussion about family or life or the world. 

“We will never be able to celebrate his future achievements and life moments, nor will we have  closure. I do not believe we have been served by the court system or had justice for the killing of our son Victor. We will have to live with that for the rest of our lives.”

Victor, from North Acton, was stabbed in Scrubs Lane, North Kensington, and pushed into the Grand Union Canal, at around 5.30pm on June 25, 2023.

Despite witnesses rescuing him from the water and emergency treatment by police officers and ambulance colleagues, he died at the scene.

The Met linked Gookol-Mely to the murder through analysis of mobile phones, CCTV from the crime scene, accounts from witnesses and forensic evidence obtained from the scene and from Victor’s stolen bag, which had been discarded nearby.

A knife was recovered from Gookol-Mely’s home address which had traces of Victor’s blood and the defendant’s DNA on it.

Gookol-Mely was arrested along with two other teenagers on June 30, 2023. Officers charged each of them the following day with murder and robbery.

The two other teenagers, aged 14 and 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found not guilty of murder and robbery following the conclusion of the trial.

Victor’s sister said: “My only brother played an integral role in shaping my childhood, serving not only as a sibling but as a best friend. 

“Our shared memories, from playful adventures on holiday to heartfelt conversations, are now my cherished memories that I rely on in his absence.

“The once lively atmosphere of our home has been replaced by an eerie silence.”

Detectives established that robbery was the motive for the brutal attack, with Gookol-Mely stealing Victor’s bike and his rucksack, which contained a number of knives.

Victor had met his killer having developed an interest in buying weapons online which he wanted to sell for profit.

Victor brought a crossbow online in the days before he was killed, which he sold to his killer at around 3pm on the day of his murder. 

He was robbed and stabbed later that day when seeking to sell knives to Gookol-Mely.

The court heard that a notebook recovered from Gookol-Mely’s prison cell in December 2023, while he was on remand awaiting trial, contained handwritten verses.

These included: “Everyone on at the 8pm news Broadcasting the stabbing I done. 

“I tried my best to leave no clues. 

“No I don’t feel sorry for the yute.”

A later verses includes the lines: “On the phone I’m saying I’m innocent; hop of (sic) the call then laugh in my cell. 

“Aye officer no I didn’t kill him; just stabbed him sent him heaven or hell.”

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, said: “Victor was a young man who was not directly involved with gangs or criminality. 

“He had his life ahead of him and his family have been torn apart by what happened to him, in the most shocking, brutal and disturbing circumstances.”

Pictured top: Victor Lee (Picture: The Met)