Teenager guilty of murdering Kamari Johnson in row over stolen moped

23 January 2025, 15:27 | Updated: 23 January 2025, 17:48

A 17-year-old has been found guilty of murdering a boy who he stabbed in broad daylight following a row over a stolen moped.

The killer, who cannot be named because of his age, attacked 16-year-old Kamari Johnson with a machete in Hayes, west London, on 24 May last year.

The Old Bailey heard the pair met up after the defendant made contact over Snapchat about wanting to buy the moped from Kamari.

The two "haggled" over the price, with Kamari wanting £180, prosecutor Joel Smith KC said.

However, when they met up, Kamari took the defendant's money and drove off, jurors were told.

Mr Smith said: "It seems that when they met, having taken [the defendant's] cash, Mr Johnson went back on his side of the deal and simply rode off. In short, he took the money and ran."

The prosecutor said the defendant was left feeling "pretty foolish, pretty embarrassed and, no doubt, pretty angry".

He told jurors: "But whatever Mr Johnson had done, you may feel, he didn't deserve what happened next."

Minutes later the 17-year-old walked to Kamari's house to confront him and get the bike, the court heard.

Mr Smith said: "He knew where Mr Johnson lived and he went there looking for him, and when he found him, he stabbed him.

"He stabbed him once through his chest and into his heart, and although Mr Johnson managed to flee on the moped, he collapsed minutes later and died on the street."

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CCTV footage played to jurors showed the defendant turning into the victim's road. About 20 seconds later, Kamari was seen driving out of the road on the black moped as the defendant chased after him, carrying a large knife with a curved blade.

A witness described seeing the 17-year-old carrying a blood-stained knife he estimated to be about 30cm long, the prosecutor said.

Further CCTV video played in court showed Kamari crashing the moped in a nearby pub car park and then collapsing.

In police interviews, the killer declined to answer questions but claimed in a statement that he "acted in self-defence at all times".

The youth made no reaction and Kamari's family members wept in court as the jury announced its verdict after deliberating for 13 hours and 35 minutes. The youth was also found guilty of having an article with a blade or point.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "This was a senseless killing, which took place out in the open. Members of the public rushed to Kamari's aid but were unable to save him.

"In the absence of a murder weapon, CCTV evidence proved crucial in convicting the killer. Residents around the scene of the crime were encouraged to upload footage from their own cameras to an online portal. From this, investigators were able to reconstruct the killer's movements on the day."

He added: "My thoughts are with Kamari's loved ones, who have suffered an unimaginable loss. I also pay tribute to the members of the public who came to Kamari's aid as he lay dying, and to those who assisted with the investigation."

The defendant is due to be sentenced on Friday 14 March.

(c) Sky News 2025: Teenager guilty of murdering Kamari Johnson in row over stolen moped