Parents blamed over gang culture




A senior police officer has called on parents to take more responsibility after 10 teenagers were sentenced over the murder of two schoolboys.

Sixteen-year-old Kodjo Yenga and Paul Erhahon, 14, were stabbed in separate incidents in London last year - both had been set upon by teenage gangs.

Det Supt Matthew Horne said some were only 13 when the crimes took place.

"To their parents I would ask them this: what were your kids doing? Where did you think they were..?" he said.

Paul Erhahon was stabbed in the heart with a sword by teenage gang members who wanted to "earn their spurs", the Old Bailey heard.

Father's tears

Many wore hoods and masks and were armed with baseball bats, knives, swords and a bicycle chain when they carried out their attack near Paul's home in Leytonstone, east London, last April.

Paul's father, also called Paul, wept as he read out a victim impact statement in court.

He said: "People who have been nurtured to live outside the realms of a decent and law-abiding society murdered my son."


All that the courts can do is to punish severely lads like you
Mr Justice Keith

Sentencing, Mr Justice Keith described the attacks as "brazen and shocking" but did not trace their actions back to their home lives.

Instead, he said he had been particularly concerned that a number appeared to come from "decent families".

Addressing Paul's attackers, he said: "So what turned you into the would-be killers that you became didn't start at home.

"There is self-evidently a culture among boys of your age to do with the carrying of knives which needs to be changed.

"How that change is to be achieved is for educationalists, sociologists and politicians to decide.

"All that the courts can do is to punish severely lads like you who take the life of another or try to take the life of another, in the callous and unthinking way that the five of you did."

'Cold-blooded children'

The judge sentencing Kodjo's killers echoed Mr Justice Keith's concerns.

Kodjo, a bright student who was expected to go to university, was killed on the other side of London from Paul, a month earlier.

He was chased through the streets of Hammersmith by teenagers armed with knives and bats, and even a bull terrier, shouting "kill him, kill him", in March last year.


All of you come from decent and caring backgrounds which makes the situation all the more worrying
Judge Christopher Moss

Kodjo was left dying in his girlfriend's arms as the gang, some wearing school uniforms, ran away, laughing.

Judge Christopher Moss told his attackers: "You were all part of the gang culture which casts its dreadful influence and leads to the sort of tragedy we have seen here.

"All of you come from decent and caring backgrounds which makes the situation all the more worrying."

Kodjo's mother Ladjua Lesele said she had been left a "broken mother" by the premeditated actions of "these cold-blooded children".

'Honest and decent'

Outside court after both sentences were passed, Det Supt Matthew Horne, from Scotland Yard's murder squad, said parents have to take some responsibility to bring up "honest and decent human beings".

He also warned young people about the culpability attached to carrying knives.

"Kodjo was killed with one stab wound and so was Paul," he said.

"We have heard today that five children in each case have been convicted of the killing of both of these boys, totalling a minimum term of imprisonment of 100 years."

"If you go out on the streets with your friends and you know your friends are carrying a knife and you arm yourself as well then the courts are going to find you guilty as if you had inflicted that fatal blow."

Paul Benfield, 16, and Kevin Adu-Marcet, 15, were given life detention sentences with a minimum term of 13 years for Paul's murder.

Jordan Conn, 15, was also convicted of his murder, and was given life with a minimum term of 11 years.

Nathan Desnoes, 16, and Theo Diah, 19, were both found guilty of manslaughter and given a detention sentence of 12 years and an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of seven years respectively.

Tirrell Davis, 17, and Brandon Richmond, 14, were ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years for the murder of Kodjo.

Michael Williams, 14, Jamel Bridgeman, 15, and Kurtis Yemoh, 17, were given 10-year custodial sentences for manslaughter.

at what age do children become responsible for their own actions?

K..i believe it is a fair view. As adults, we are responsible for our own actions and how we raise our children is a proof of the actions we took as parents in raising our ofsprings. Hence, we muct take responsibilities when our children go bonkers stabing each other like zombies.

ANY African person who is not aware of how racist and debilitating this white system can be to their children, shouldn't simply be a parent. Our children NEED us now more than ever, and if we are not prepared to put in the hard work it takes to help our children in this foreign environment, then we are at fault. When were are all born, we are empty vessels and it's the parents' job to fill us in with what is correct or not. HOw can it then be that when some children go bonkers, the parents look elsewhere to put blame?

Honestly, African parents in this country are just being lazy....expecially those ones that shout EDUCATION, EDUCATION with more passion then Tony Blair! They think sending their children to school is "IT".....them good white people will take care of their children and educate them to earn more money than they(the parents) ever did. It's pathetic.

Most so called parents from my country do not even speak English...this in effect leaves them in the dark about what their children are up to as well as not being able to challenge the racist system that targets their children.

I know the "system" does NOT help, but so what?? If you as an ADULT, decides to stay and procreate in environemt that you KNOW very well is hostile towards you and your kind, then you better be prepared to face the consequences.

I know plenty of white youths commiting all sorts of crimes, and i will let their commnuities deal with them. But we as a people, need to look at ourselves bloody hard, why are youths taking life at such a low value? It's the parents and adults responsible for thse children who should take the blame for raising a bunch of moral less young people with no fear for taking lives. I mean if they stealing a few cans of beer and rebeling i can understand, but KILLING each other??

Agree.

This generations parents are to blame... or we are as a collective for not keeping up the fight, we've gotten slack over the past few years.

Brilliant. I agree with everything u wrote.

The parents are not to blame, the adults are to blame because we have no strength in depth. You don't have to be childless to be free from blame. When your child steps into the outside world his or her community is their parent.

Yeah but them days done long time ago.We dont live in homegenous communities where them ties come naturally. Of course parents shoulder some blame. Society too. But parents play a big part.

The parents are not to blame. Regardless of how well many parents try to raise their kids many still do get into the gang culture. The parents don't have any control on how they act or what they do. Not all children who are raised with good intentions become outstanding, good members of society.