Jermaine Cools: Teenager pleads guilty to murder of boy, 14

Jermaine Cools was with his brother when he was attacked outside a chicken shop

A teenager has admitted murdering a 14-year-old boy who was London's youngest stabbing victim in 2021.

Jermaine Cools was attacked in a fight involving a number of people outside a chicken shop near West Croydon station in south London on 18 November that year.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds.

At the Old Bailey, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to murder and is due to be sentenced on 24 February.

Speaking outside court Jermaine's father, Julius Cools said his son's mother had lost her "best friend".

He described Jermaine as a "mummy's boy" and said that they "used to do everything together".

The Met Police said the defendant, who was 16 at the time, was seen on CCTV calmly walking towards a fight that had broken out, with a knife in his pocket.

When Jermaine fell over, the defendant was seen to run towards him and he repeatedly lunged at Jermaine with a knife, who was frantically trying to avoid being stabbed, before running off, the force said.

A member of the public helped Jermaine into a car and drove him to Croydon hospital where he died just over an hour later.

Detectives said following the murder the defendant was identified from CCTV and was arrested on 27 December after officers, who were carrying out an arrest inquiry for someone else, found him hiding behind a bed.

Julius Cools (third left) with friends and family outside court

The defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, previously admitted possessing a knife in London Road on the same date.

Of the guilty plea, Mr Cools said: "This guy took our life, and our son and everything we had so even though he's in court, he's laughing.

"There's nothing that can help us from going through what we're going through.

"This guy killed our son, he murdered our innocent baby just like that for no reason."

The stabbing took place near West Croydon railway station

Last November, a plaque was unveiled near to the place where Jermaine died to commemorate him.

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