"I miss Kodjo and I will miss him forever"


Mother speaks of her loss as four teenagers are charged with her son's murder

Four youths have been charged with the murder of Kodjo Yenga in Hammersmith Grove.

The teenage boys, aged 13, 15 and 16 years, appeared at West London Magistrates Court on Saturday 17th March, the same day the family of 16 year old Kodjo visited the scene of his murder.

The family lay flowers in Amor Rd before moving on along Hammersmith Grove to a tribute wall on the corner of Richford Street.

In a statement to the press, Ladjua Lesele, mother of Kodjo Yenga, said, "I miss Kodjo and I will miss him forever. My boy was very mature for his age, polite and very neat with his character. He was a boy that took very good care of himself, especially his hair."

She continued "He was very ambitious and worked hard on his studies. Kodjo was very friendly he was very popular. His friends were his friends that he knew at school."

"My son was never a part of a gang and his name was never in the list of any gang. My son was a good Christian and practiced a lot in our religion. We never kept secrets from each other. I will miss him all my life."

Five other male youths have been bailed to return at a date in March.

March 17, 2007