Knifeman, 17, detained for murder of 'defenceless' 14-year-old

A teenager has been jailed for the murder of a "defenceless" 14-year-old boy.

Marques Walker, 17, stabbed Jermaine Cools to death as he lay on the ground outside a chicken shop in Croydon, south London.

Jermaine became the youngest victim of a fatal knife crime in 2021 after the attack on November 18 that year.

Walker, who was on bail for knife possession at the time, was also sentenced for an attack on a fellow inmate at Feltham Young Offenders Institution while remanded in custody over the killing.

In that case, he and and a gang of others left the 17-year-old victim with serious brain damage.

Walker admitted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and knife possession and was ordered to be detained at His Majesty's Pleasure - the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence. He will serve a minimum term of 19 years.

His sentencing at the Old Bailey was the first time such a hearing involving a juvenile has been televised, following a challenge to reporting restrictions by media groups.

Judge Sarah Munro KC said of the killing: “This is yet another case of the senseless murder of a young teenager committed for reasons no mature adult could fathom.”

The judge's sentencing remarks can be read in full at: https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/r-...

This video has been edited to comply with reporting restrictions.

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos:    / @skynewscourts  

Follow Sky News on Twitter:   / skynews   and   / skynewsbreak  

Like us on Facebook:   / skynews  

Follow us on Instagram:   / skynews  

For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps:

Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-n...

Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...