A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the gang-related murder of 18-year-old Kacem Mokrane in Walthamstow, east London, in November 2017.
Christopher Wilson, of Templar Drive, Thamesmead, was found guilty following a retrial in December and was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday to serve a minimum of 16 years behind bars.
Gang ambush led to fatal stabbing
The court heard how Wilson, along with four other gang members, armed himself with knives, machetes, and swords before setting out to ambush Kacem Mokrane on Mount Pleasant Road at around 11:15pm.
The group launched a brutal and unprovoked attack, stabbing Kacem at least twice before fleeing the scene. The teenager was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, where doctors performed major surgery in an attempt to save his life. However, he tragically succumbed to complications from his injuries.
Wilson is now the fifth person to be convicted for Kacem’s murder, following the convictions of Hamza Ul-Haq, Luca Griffiths, Abdirisak Ali, and Kamil Kazmierski in June 2023.
Emotional family statement
After the sentencing, Kacem Mokrane’s family released a heartbreaking statement, describing the pain and devastation Wilson and his accomplices had inflicted upon them.
“The manner in which Kacem was murdered has had a life-changing impact on our family. We will never share another meal with Kacem or watch him achieve his dreams. His caring and funny personality will only be a painful memory to us all.”
The family also made it clear that they could never forgive Wilson for his ruthless actions, stating that his lack of remorse and cowardice during the trial had further deepened their grief.
“The family do not feel that there should be any alternative to Christopher Wilson’s punishment other than a lengthy custodial sentence. He is a dangerous individual and should be taken off the streets for as long as is legally possible.”
A long wait for justice
Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Ben Dalloway, who led the investigation, acknowledged the long and painful wait Kacem’s family had endured before finally seeing justice served.
“They have had to relive the events of that day, but today we have witnessed the jailing of a fifth person in connection with the murder,” he said.
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“This was a complex investigation involving a number of crimes that were linked. Wilson’s conviction and sentencing should act as a stark reminder to anyone involved in this level of violence that we will continue to search for you in order that you can be put before the courts.”
The rise of gang violence in London
The murder of Kacem Mokrane is one of many violent gang-related killings that have plagued London in recent years. The Metropolitan Police has repeatedly warned about the dangers of gang feuds, where young men armed with weapons carry out violent attacks in an attempt to settle disputes.
Since Kacem’s murder in 2017, police have intensified efforts to combat gang violence in Walthamstow and other affected areas, leading to numerous arrests and convictions. However, authorities warn that gang culture continues to pose a serious threat to public safety.
A harsh sentence, but no closure for the family
While Wilson’s life sentence marks another step in bringing Kacem’s killers to justice, his grieving family remains heartbroken, knowing that no punishment can bring their loved one back.
Despite the court’s ruling, the family now faces the lifelong pain of losing Kacem—a young man whose future was stolen by senseless gang violence.
For now, Christopher Wilson, like his accomplices, will spend years behind bars, a fitting consequence for the cold-blooded murder of an innocent teenager.
