Teenager admits murder of 14-year-old Jermaine Cools in south London
Jermaine's family were in court on what would have been the first day of the trial - but the teenager entered a guilty plea and is now likely to be sentenced next month.
Monday 9 January 2023 12:18, UK
A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to the murder of 14-year-old Jermaine Cools in south London.
The 17-year-old entered the plea at the Old Bailey on Monday.
Jermaine was stabbed to death in London Road in Croydon, in November 2021, after a fight involving a number of people.
He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
The defendant entered his guilty plea after having previously admitted possessing a knife while at the scene of the fight.
Jermaine's family were in court on what would have been the first day of the teenager's murder trial.
Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC suggested a sentencing date of 24 February.
The defendant, who cannot be named because he's under 18 years old, was remanded in custody.
Read more on Sky News:
Couple accused of murdering French nanny 'had sex near her dead body'
Police cuts 'likely' factor in serious crime rise
After Jermaine's funeral last year, his father Julius described the ordeal as "terrible".
"Our son was everything, to be honest," he said.
"We've been living in a lot of pain, we don't sleep at night, we just wake up and keep asking ourselves why?"
Jermaine's killing happened in a record year for teenage murders in London, with 30 under-18s killed.