Victor Lee, a 17-year-old teenager, was stabbed and left to bleed to death on a towpath in London by two houseboat residents in June last year. It was revealed in court that Lee was a teenage weapons dealer who had been selling knives online to other teenagers for profit. He had met with the defendants, Elijah Gokool-Mely, 18, a 14-year-old, and a 16-year-old to sell them a crossbow. Later, they asked him to meet again to sell them some knives, which led to his murder. The defendants fled the scene with Lee’s bike and the rucksack containing the knives after stabbing him with at least two knives in broad daylight by the canal side.
Before the killing, Lee had been engaged in buying knives online and selling them for profit. He seemed to have been providing a service to his customers, but he did not expect to be murdered by them. The defendants arrived at the scene on bicycles and waited for Lee to arrive. There were no eyewitnesses to the murder, but one witness saw Gokool-Mely, the tallest of the three boys, pushing Lee into the canal after he had already been stabbed three times. Lee was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:10 pm after being pulled out dying from the canal.
In the days following the killing, Gokool-Mely and the 14-year-old changed their appearances by unplaiting their hair, while the 16-year-old stopped using Snapchat. Lee, who lived with his father in north-west London, had been described as ‘aspirational’ and had a drive to make money, having previously made money selling bicycles. The defendants deny murder and robbery charges in the ongoing trial, with the prosecution presenting evidence that suggests a premeditated plan to murder Lee after a previous transaction involving the sale of a crossbow.
The case highlights the dangers of dealing with weapons, especially in a black-market scenario where transactions can quickly turn violent. Lee’s murder serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences that can arise from illegal activities involving weapons. The defendants’ actions in stealing Lee’s possessions and fleeing the scene suggest a callous disregard for human life, and the fact that they attempted to change their appearances after the incident further indicates a lack of remorse or respect for the victim. The trial continues as more details emerge about the events leading up to Lee’s murder and the circumstances surrounding it. Such incidents underscore the need for stricter regulations and enforcement to prevent the illegal sale and possession of weapons, as well as the importance of addressing the root causes of crime and violence in society.
