Teenager guilty of murdering boy in row over moped

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a 16-year-old boy with a 30cm (12in) machete in a row over a stolen moped.

Kamari Johnson was found injured after police were called to Bourne Avenue in Hayes, west London, on 24 May last year. He died at the scene.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of Kamari's murder and possession of a bladed article in public. Kamari's family, who attended the whole trial, cried as the verdicts were returned.

Judge Simon Mayo KC told the defendant: "The sentence will be a sentence of life - the issue I must decide is how long you must serve as punishment before you can be released on licence."

The court heard earlier that the defendant stabbed Kamari in the heart with the machete after being "scammed" over a moped deal that day.

Kamari rode off with the moped that the defendant had just paid for, and his cash, jurors were told.

Minutes after the meeting, the 17-year-old walked to Kamari's house to confront him, intent on getting the bike.

Prosecutor Joel Smith KC told the jury: "He knew where Mr Johnson lived and he went there looking for him, and when he found him, he stabbed him.

"He stabbed him once through his chest and into his heart, and although Mr Johnson managed to flee on the moped, he collapsed minutes later and died on the street."

Police found Kamari with stab wounds at about 13:30 BST that afternoon and, despite the efforts of the emergency services, his life could not be saved.

In police interviews, the defendant declined to answer questions but claimed in a prepared statement that he "acted in self-defence at all times".

The youth made no reaction as the verdicts were given after a jury deliberated for 13 hours and 35 minutes.

Judge Mayo thanked jurors and paid tribute to Kamari's family, saying they remained "composed and acted in a very dignified fashion throughout this trial".

The defendant was remanded into custody and sentencing is due to take place on 14 March.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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