Man, 24, jailed for life for murder of Keelen Wong

Keelen Wong was killed in a tit-for-tat revenge attack

A man has been jailed for life for murdering a 22-year-old man in a revenge attack in south London.

The trial at the Old Bailey heard that Keelen Wong was stabbed by Kyiza Sandiford in Brixton in October 2023, using "an appalling weapon" with a blade more than a foot long.

On Friday Sandiford, 24, from Merton, south-west London, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and 318 days.

After sentencing, the victim's father Jemaine Wong said there was "no joy or winners in this scenario, only levels of loss".

Sandiford was unanimously convicted on 17 October following a five-week trial.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.

He was handed a Youth Rehabilitation Order at court on Friday.

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."

He added: "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 but my hope is that the sentence will allow the defendant time to appreciate the value of life."

Keelen's mother Nadine Searchwell said she was "blessed and grateful" to be her son's mother.

"My one son, I love you, know I got you. Keelen Wong's legacy lives," she said.

"He’s God's child and God doesn't sleep."

Police were called at 16:44 BST on 3 October 2023 to reports of a stabbing in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and Mr Wong was found with a knife injury. He died at the scene.

Sandiford was arrested the day after the attack.

Two 16-year-old boys were found not guilty of murder.

Det Insp Kevin Martin, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said his thoughts were with Mr Wong's family and friends.

He said: "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."