Kodjo Yenga's murder: youths remanded

Four youths have been remanded in custody over the murder of 16-year-old Kodjo Yenga who was stabbed to death in Hammersmith, west London. There were emotional scenes during a visit by around 30 members of his family to the site of Wednesday's murder in Hammersmith Grove as officers continue their search for the murder weapon in gardens, skips and local streets.

At West London magistrates court, Judge Susan Williams remanded two 13-year-olds in custody in secure accommodation and a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in custody. All four will appear at West London Youth Court on March 21.

Kodjo's mother, Ladjua Lesele, issued a statement saying her son was "very mature for his age" and a "good Christian". She denied he was a gang member. She said: "I was very close with my boy. He was confident and motivated. We never kept secrets from each other. My life with my boy was fantastic. We loved each other. We were really inseparable. I will miss him all my life." Kodjo had recently spoken about knife crime when interviewed by the music channel MTV. He said: "I think stabbing has got worse but the media also make it bigger than what it is."

He is the latest teenager to die in a series of attacks in the capital in recent weeks. Last month, three teenagers alone were shot dead in separate incidents in south London.

Billy Cox, 15, was shot dead at his home in Clapham while schoolboy Michael Dosunmu, 15, was shot in his bedroom in nearby Peckham days after James Smartt-Ford, 16, was gunned down at Streatham ice rink.