Teen gangs: Met urges parents to take control

A top policeman today demanded that parents take responsibility for their children as two sets of teenagers faced jail for the murders of two schoolboys.

Detective Superintendent Matthew Horne of the Met's murder squad called on parents to know where their children were at night and what they were up to.

His warning came as the killers of Kodjo Yenga and Paul Erhahon are sentenced at the Old Bailey today.

Mr Horne said: "Some of the boys were only 13 when they committed these crimes - children, only just teenagers. To their parents I would ask them this; what were your kids doing? Where did you think they were at the times these boys were so brutally killed?

"That's a message to all of us who are parents, we have to take responsibility to ensure our children are brought up as honest and decent human beings."

A-grade student Kodjo, 16, was stabbed to death in Hammersmith in February last year after being cornered by a gang armed with knives, hammers and baseball bats. They chased him yelling "catch him, kill him", the court heard.

Two youths, aged 14 and 17, were found guilty of Kodjo's murder, while another three, aged 17, 14 and 15, were convicted of his manslaughter. The court heard the defendants claimed to be younger members of a west London gang known as the MDP, which stood for "Murder Dem Pussies" or "Money, Drugs, Power".

A few courtrooms away six teenagers were convicted of offences related to the death of Paul Erhahon. The 14-year-old was attacked by a 17-strong group in Leytonstone in April last year.

Despite being stabbed with a samurai sword Paul made it to his home and pleaded for his life while being cradled in his mother's arms. The court heard that older members of the gang encouraged others known as "youngers" to earn their spurs by attacking Paul and his 15-year-old friend.

Three boys aged 16, 15, 14 were found guilty of murder and two, aged 19 and 16, were found guilty of manslaughter. An 18-year-old was found guilty of the attempted murder of Paul's friend and cleared of Paul's murder.

Mr Horne said those involved in violent gangs should expect a prison term if they play even a small part in a serious crime. He said of the murdered boys: "They had every right to be optimistic for their future in a great city of opportunity. Their lives were taken by others, five boys in the case of Kodjo and six in the case of Paul.

"However, only one boy fatally stabbed Kodjo and only one fatally stabbed Paul. My message is this; if you go out with your friends looking for a fight, then you are as guilty as your mate who inflicts the fatal blow."