A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison for the murder of a 15-year-old boy in a London park and the attempted murder of another individual. Aderahman Boumzough, 25, was found guilty of both charges at Woolwich Crown Court.
The fatal shooting occurred on July 21, 2024, at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove. The victim, Rene Graham, was killed in what a judge described as a "callous and cold-blooded" act. A second person present at the scene narrowly escaped injury when Boumzough's firearm jammed.
Following the incident, Graham's mother, Janay John-Francois, made an emotional appeal for information, describing the profound pain of losing her son.
Boumzough, who has no fixed address, evaded arrest for over a year. The police had offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Judge Simon James remarked on the tragedy of Graham's death, noting that the teenager had "his whole life to realise his dreams and aspirations."