Nigerian Teenager Found Guilty Of Manslaughter In London

A Nigerian teenager, Victoria Osoteku, has been convicted of manslaughter in London. She was said to be at the heart of the attack at Victoria station in London, which resulted in Sofyen Belamouadden being knifed in front of horrified commuters.

According to prosecution, Miss Osoteku was seen on CCTV kicking the victim in the head as he lay dying on the ground after the 10-second attack by rival school pupils.

Sofyen was stabbed nine times? and suffered wounds to his heart, a lung and major blood vessels.

Osoteku was found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in the latest of a series of trials of 20 defendants from South London.

She was the only female charged in connection with the incident in March 2010, and spent 19 days in the witness box.

Osoteku, of Deptford, South London, was remanded in custody to be sentenced at a later date with others convicted of the killing.

The stabbing was the horrific end of a minor confrontation the day before in the fast food area of the station between pupils from two west London schools.

The court heard Osoteku bought a set of knives from Argos with a 17-year-old youth at lunchtime and gave them to the gang.
She was also one of the teenagers responsible for setting up the fatal showdown.

The A-level student sent messages by phone and on Facebook arranging the clash between pupils from the rival schools.

Sofyen died after being chased by? 20 pupils across the Terminus Way concourse and into the Underground station.

Osoteku was behind a youth who led the charge with a Samurai sword. Other youths were armed with a flick knife and a Swiss army knife, machetes and screwdrivers.

Mr Heywood said: “They were so heavily armed that no smaller group, or even police officer or member of station staff could withstand or stop them.”

Sofyen fell down the stairs into the ticket hall and was attacked on the ground by a smaller group.

Osoteku was also found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, said: “She was one of those who set up and organised the confrontation that led to the death.

“Her responsibility for the death is very great indeed, even though it was others that delivered the final fatal blows that led to Sofyen Belamouadden's death.”

He said she and another pupil were “at the heart” of all the communication and “were in effect the focal point.”

Osoteku denied the allegations during the five-month trial. She said she had not kicked Sofyen.

“I just went to see if he was okay and I nudged him with my foot to see if he was okay,” she wept.

“He didn't move. I looked down and then I ran off. I panicked. I did not know what to do.”

She told the court that she had a terrible childhood, being taken into care with her sister when she was eight.

Osoteku becomes the fourth person convicted of manslaughter.

Adonis Akra, 18, Samuel Roberts, 19, and Femi Oderinwale, 18, were found guilty of manslaughter during earlier hearings.