Teenager admits West Croydon stabbing death of 14-year-old Jermaine Cools

A teenager has admitted murdering a 14-year-old schoolboy who was stabbed to death in a fight outside a south London train station.

Victim Jermaine Cools was rushed to hospital after being stabbed multiple times in the incident near West Croydon station on 18 November 2021, but later died from his injuries.

At the Old Bailey on Monday, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to Jermaine’s murder and now faces a life sentence.

Jermaine’s family members were in court to hear the guilty plea.

The killer, who was 16 at the time of the stabbing, spoke only to confirm his name and say “guilty” during the brief court hearing, standing with his arms crossed as he admitted the murder.

The court found that he underwent psychological evaluations while in custody. He is due back in court on February 24, when a sentencing date is expected to be set.

The teenager had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a knife at the time of the fatal stabbing.

After Jermaine’s death, Lorraine Dudek’s mother told the Evening Standard: “The one thing I want for Christmas can never happen – to get Jermaine back.”

She hailed her son as the ‘life and soul’ of their household, saying: ‘As a family we are too devastated by the loss of Jermaine to even consider living without him.

“Jermaine was my life, we were so close and together all the time. I miss his laugh, he was always laughing.

“I miss the joy he brought to our family and our home without him is just sad.”

Jermaine was 27 years old^th teenager to be murdered on the streets of London in 2021, and immediately after the stabbing, the Met Police appealed for the help of rush hour commuters to help catch the killer.

“Jermaine was a central member of his family and his parents have been left devastated and without a son,” said Chief Inspector Richard Vandenbergh, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

“At the very least, they are owed an explanation for why their son was killed and the police will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”