A teenager has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years after stabbing a boy and pushing him into the canal.

On June 25, 2023, at around 5.30pm, Victor Lee from North Action was stabbed near the Grand Union Canal in Scrubs Lane and pushed into the canal.

Local people quickly rescued him from the water and he was given “emergency treatment”.

But 17-year-old Victor died at the scene.

Elijah Gookol-Mely was linked to the murder through mobile phone analysis, CCTV around the crime scene, accounts from witnesses, forensic evidence and Victor’s stolen bag discarded nearby.

A knife was found in 18-year-old Gookol-Mely’s home which has Victor’s blood and the defendant’s DNA on it.

It has been established that the motive for this “brutal attack” was robbery – Gookol-Mely was stealing Victor’s bike and his rucksack which police believe contained multiple knives.

Gookol-Mely, of Australia Road, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday (July 19) to life imprisonment after having been found guilty of murder and robbery.

He will serve a minimum term of 20 years.

Victor’s mother said: “In June 2023, my whole life immediately changed, the very meaning of life was shaken.

“There was only emptiness and darkness around me.

“Victor was a child of love, loved by many people who valued him.

“Victor lives on in my heart, and in the hearts of those who love him.”

Victor’s father said: “The death of Victor is like a festering wound that you try to keep clean but won’t heal.

“We will never have him back, be able to have a discussion about family or life or the world.

“We will never be able to celebrate his future achievements and life moments, nor will we have closure.

“I do not believe we have been served by the court system or had justice for the killing of our son Victor.

“We will have to live with that for the rest of our lives.”

Victor’s sister said: “My only brother played an integral role in shaping my childhood, serving not only as a sibling but as a best friend.

“Our shared memories, from playful adventures on holiday to heartfelt conversations, are now my cherished memories that I rely on in his absence; memories I thought we could bond over once we grow old and our parents pass away.

“The once lively atmosphere of our home has been replaced by an eerie silence.

“Of course, there was typical sibling rivalry but in my darkest days, Victor was always there to accompany, console and support me which is something I deeply miss, particularly as I face the future without him.

“I go to bed at night thinking about Victor’s last moments and what he must have felt, cold and alone, deep in that canal with unimaginable pain all over his body.”

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, the senior investigating officer who led the investigation, said: “Victor was a 17-year-old young man who was not directly involved with gangs or criminality.

“He had his life ahead of him and his family have been torn apart by what happened to him, in the most shocking, brutal and disturbing circumstances.

“During the trial Victor’s family listened to deeply traumatising evidence of the violent acts committed against him.

“No sentence can ever bring Victor back or compensate for the loss of a son, brother and friend, but I and my team are glad to see that the term handed down today means that Elijah Gookol-Mely will spend 20 years in prison, where he cannot destroy another family.”