A teenager who brutally murdered a 14-year-old schoolboy in a terrifying street attack can be named for the first time as an Old Bailey judge sought to deter other young people from knife crime.
Marques Walker, 17, pulled a large knife out of his coat and used it to attack Jermaine Cools in a fight near to West Croydon station in November 2021.
Jermaine was the 27th fatal victim of knife crime that year, and the youngest victim to die on London’s streets in 2021.
Following an application by the media, Judge Sarah Munro KC agreed on Wednesday that Walker – facing a life sentence for Jermaine’s murder – could be named for the first time.
Lifting reporting restrictions imposed until his 18th birthday, the judge said she wanted this case to act as a “deterrent to others”.
“The welfare of this defendant doesn’t outweigh the public interest in open justice”, she said.
“(Naming) will enhance public confidence that the criminal justice system is addressing serious crime and the increasing prevalence of knife crime.
“There is a consequential need for deterrence, promoting public confidence that the criminal justice system is addressing the problem.”
Jermaine’s parents, Julius Cools and Lorraine Dudek, supported the media’s application to be able to name Walker ahead of his sentencing next week.
The judge’s sentencing remarks from that hearing are also set to televised.
The fatal stabbing of Jermaine happened in London Road, Croydon, following a fight outside a chicken shop on November 18 2021.
Walker, then 16, was caught on CCTV calmly walking towards the fight and drawing a large knife from his coat.
He ran towards Jermaine, who had fallen over, and repeatedly lunge at the schoolboy with the knife.
Jermaine was driven to hospital while bleeding heavily, but later died from his injuries including a chest wound and punctured lung.
Walker went on the run after the murder, and was eventually located nearly six weeks when he was hiding behind a bed. He pleaded guilty to murder and possessing a knife.
Walker was also on bail for carrying a zombie knife at the time he murdered Jermaine, the court heard.
His barrister, John Hurlock, said reports on modern slavery, Walker’s psychology, and his mental health are all due to be presented to the sentencing hearing, which is set for May 9.
In the aftermath of the murder, Mrs Dudek said: “Jermaine was my life, we were so close and together all the time. I miss his laugh he was always laughing.
“I miss the joy he brought our family and our home without him is just sad.”
