Jermaine Cools: Teenager detained for murder of boy, 14

A teenager who murdered a 14-year-old boy, London's youngest stabbing victim in 2021, has been detained for life.

Marques Walker previously admitted attacking Jermaine Cools outside a chicken shop near West Croydon station, south London, on 18 November that year.

Appearing at the Old Bailey, the 17-year-old became the first youth to be sentenced on television as he was ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years.

The court heard Jermaine had died in "a senseless attack".

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC told the court: "It is clear that Jermaine Cools did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was unarmed, he was on the floor, and he was totally vulnerable.

"He was stabbed a total of seven times by Marques Walker in a senseless attack of extreme ferocity."

Judge Sarah Munro KC said Walker had attacked the 14-year-old "mercilessly" and the victim "must have been terrified and in agony".

Marques Walker was ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years

The court heard Walker, who was 16 at the time of the killing, had a history of carrying deadly weapons and had been on bail for having a Zombie knife six weeks before Jermaine's death.

Showing a lack of remorse, he wrote about the murder in rap lyrics while awaiting trial saying: "Even if that youth was a civilian I would still rewind and chef up (stab) his back."

The victim's mother, Lorraine Dudek, described the failure to deal with Walker's knife-carrying habit as a "missed opportunity".

She said: "Had it been addressed earlier he would not have had the opportunity to go out to kill.

"Young males get caught with a knife, the knife gets confiscated. Within an hour they get another one from Snapchat or social media."

Police had arrested Walker numerous times for possessing knives, including this "zombie" knife

She said police stop-and search tactics "has its place and it's very, very good for removing weapons but the follow-up has to be there.

"When Jermaine got stopped and searched I was happy about it. Some parents complain about their children being stopped and searched - that could be the deterrent that stops them," she added.

The court heard how Walker, from Bromley, was caught on CCTV footage calmly walking towards Jermaine and drawing a machete from his coat. He then lunged at the 14-year-old, who had fallen to the ground after being pushed by another person.

Jermaine, who had previously confided in his parents that he was worried about knife crime, was driven by a passer-by to the Mayday Hospital where he died from a wound to the chest.

Detectives identified the defendant from CCTV footage but he was not arrested for nearly six weeks as he avoided the police by sleeping on the sofas of friends.

Ms Dudek added: "All these gang members. All his friends and family that protected him have my son's blood on their hands. I will never forgive the defendant."

Jermaine's father Julius Cools, said he wanted everyone connected with Jermaine's murder to face justice

Jermaine's father Julius Cools said he hoped Walker "never comes out again because he's dangerous" and he called for "everyone that's involved in the killing to get what they deserve as well".

"Him getting life means nothing to me, it doesn't bring my son back. The pain we're going through every day in life… the only thing I want, I can't bring Jermaine back, but I want justice for my son."

When asked how he coped with his son's death, he said "nothing matters" to him and Jermaine's mother anymore and they "can't wait for our time to come as well".

"We're just waiting so that one day God can say, 'you know what, come please'. That's how I live and that's how his mum lives as well."

In addition to the life sentence, Walker was detained for a minimum of four years for a separate offence of GBH, which happened in July 2022 when he was on remand in custody at HMP Feltham and left the victim with severe brain damage.

He was also sentenced to eight months for possession of a dangerous weapon, with all sentences to run concurrently.

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