15-year-old Jalan Woods-Bell
(Picture: PA Media)A teenager who stabbed to death 15-year-old Jalan Woods-Bell with a ‘Rambo’ knife as he walked to school with friends has been jailed for 10 years.
The 16-year-old killer was caught on CCTV armed with the large knife as he followed Jalan and his friends, slashing the boy across the face and stabbing him in the chest.
Jalan, who was unarmed, attempted to use a traffic cone to defend himself, but died from his injuries at the scene in Blyth Road, Hayes, west London.
The attack, about 8.30am on June 11 last year, is believed to have been fuelled by a dispute between the two teenagers, who attended different schools.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified, was convicted by a jury of manslaughter, and sentenced on Monday at Harrow crown court to 10 years in prison with an extra three years on licence after his release.
“Jalan was walking to school with his friends when he was set upon by the defendant”, said Detective Inspector Mike Nolan, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation.
“Whilst it is apparent that there was some form of grievance between these two teenagers, nothing can justify the taking of another life.
“The defendant attempted to justify his actions by claiming self-defence, but the evidence and eye witness accounts confirm that he was carrying a large knife in a gloved hand. Whereas Jalan was unarmed, and tried to use a traffic cone to fend off his attacker.
“Once again another teenager has lost his life to knife crime, and another family is grieving the loss of a child. Our thoughts are with them today.”
The court heard the killer had a ‘Rambo-style’ knife in his waistband prior to the attack, in which Jalan was chased and then stabbed.
The stabbing happened close to Global Academy, a creative college for students aged 14-19.
The teenager ran away after inflicting the fatal injuries, and went to school where he was arrested later in the day.
He was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter, and also convicted of possession of an article with a blade or a point.
Following the stabbing, John Jackson, a relative of Jalan’s family, told the Sunday Times: “We have a pandemic of violence that is not being treated like a pandemic.
“As long as it stays in inner cities and urban areas then it is not being seen as a problem that needs to be tackled. There is a feeling the victims are not actually being seen as victims but have done something to deserve it.
“Unless we do something there are many innocent people being caught up in it and their stories aren’t being told.”
