Teens jailed for ambush murder of ‘helpful’ boy

TWO teenagers have been locked up for life for the murder of a 17-yearold boy who was ambushed and stabbed.

Ezra Abeka-Soares and Morgan Mockford, both 18, were “off their patch” to sell drugs before the killing in Walthamstow High Street, east London, on the evening of May 7.

Armed with knives, they waited behind a phone box before pouncing on keen footballer Elijah Dornelly.

Elijah dodged the first blow from Abeka-Soares but was then stabbed in the stomach by Mockford, the Old Bailey heard.

The seriously injured victim, from nearby Higham Hill, managed to run into the Arabian Nights cafe, but he suffered massive blood loss and was pronounced dead in the early hours of the morning.

Mockford, of Randolf Road, Walthamstow, and Abeka-Soares, of Caxton Road, Southall, west London, were found guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to two.

Following the verdicts, Elijah’s mother, Edith Acayo-Ogol, described him a “good” and “helpful” boy who loved playing football.

The single mother-of-four said he got good results in his exams and was hoping for a career as a PE teacher.

The defendants, who both had previous convictions for carrying knives, were handed life sentences by Judge Andrew Lees QC.

Mockford, who was 17 at the time, was detained for at least 17 years with 30 months concurrent for carrying a blade.

Abeka-Soares was jailed for life with a minimum term of 19 years, with four years concurrent for possessing a knife.