A man has been sentenced for the murdering 22-year-old Keelen Wong in broad daylight in a busy Brixton street.
Kyiza Sandiford, 24, from Merton, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 23 years.
Police were called to reports of a stabbing in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, around 4.45pm on October 3 last year.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service paramedics arrived to find Keelen with a knife injury. He died at the scene.
Sandiford was arrested the following day, on October 4, after being tracked down using CCTV and a blood trail he left at the scene of the stabbing.
He was charged, and following a trial at the Old Bailey was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey on October 17 this year.
Keelen’s father Jemaine Wong said he is “grateful” for the life sentence handed to Sandiford, but that it brings “no joy”.
“All who knew and loved Keelen are planning to have his memory last long beyond Sandiford’s time,” he said.
“However, there are no joy or winners in this scenario, only levels of loss.
“Community violence is a sad reality that I will have to navigate with the grace of God moving forward. No amount of time will account for the life of my son Keelen Wong, but my hope is that the sentence will allow the defendant time to appreciate the value of life.”
Keelen’s mother Nadine Searchwell added: “To the killer and the two individuals who stood with him – they only took his flesh. His spirit is still here. He’s God’s child and God doesn’t sleep.
“I’m just blessed and grateful to be his Mum and so thankful I got 22 years with my baby. My one son, I love you, know I got you. Keelen Wong’s legacy lives.”
Det Insp Kevin Martin, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Our thoughts remain with Keelen’s family and friends.
“Our investigation gathered compelling evidence to put the defendant before the court. My team pieced together the various movements of Sandiford on the day of the murder, including linking a blood trail at the scene to Sandiford’s self-admission to hospital.
“I have spoken with Keelen’s family and, although the trial has not provided them with the full result that they had wished for, I have expressed my sincere hope that they can obtain some degree of comfort from the sentence handed down.
“This result shows that the Met remains deeply committed to pursuing and prosecuting those who are willing to commit acts of violence on the streets of London.”
Two other teenagers arrested over Keelen’s death were both found not guilty of the murder but one, aged 16, was found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon. He was given a nine month Youth Supervision Order at court.
