A German national has been charged with murder following the death of a teenager whose fatal injuries were inflicted when he was just four months old.
Arrest at Heathrow and a Tragic Timeline
Lejunae Wood, 42, from Wuppertal, Germany, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, 4 December. He was taken into police custody and formally charged with murder on Friday. Wood is scheduled to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 6 December.
The charge relates to the death of 14-year-old Leajunne Wood. The tragic sequence of events began in December 2007 in Hayes, west London, when the victim was a four-month-old baby. He suffered what were described at the time as life-changing injuries during an incident.
A Life Cut Short by Past Trauma
Leajunne tragically passed away on Monday, 6 December 2021. Pathologist reports, served in 2023, concluded he died from complications arising from a severe head injury – the same injury sustained 14 years earlier.
This medical finding prompted the Metropolitan Police to launch a murder investigation. The force's dedicated inquiry ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspect at the UK's busiest airport.
Ongoing Support for the Family
In a statement, the Met Police confirmed that the teenager's next of kin have been informed of the murder charge. The family continue to receive support from specialist officers assigned to the case.
This complex investigation bridges a period of over 14 years, highlighting the force's commitment to pursuing justice regardless of the time elapsed. The upcoming court appearance will mark the next step in this protracted legal process.
