Aderahman Boumzough, 25, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years and 169 days at Woolwich Crown Court for the murder of 15-year-old Rene Graham and the attempted murder of another man. The attack occurred in a children's play area during a family music festival at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove, west London, on July 21, 2024.
Details of the Attack
CCTV footage showed Boumzough calmly approaching the children's play area and firing a single shot, killing Rene. He then pursued another man and attempted to shoot him, but the firearm jammed, allowing the victim to escape. Boumzough fled the scene and was not apprehended until over a year later.
Sentencing Remarks
Judge Simon James described the murder as a 'callous and cold-blooded' act and a 'premeditated public execution.' He noted that Rene 'should have had his whole life to realise his dreams and aspirations' and that it was 'impossible not to be moved' by the family's statements. The judge also highlighted that Boumzough showed no remorse and even appeared 'proud and boastful' about his crimes, as evidenced by a video on his phone where he rapped about the firearm jamming, saying, 'Don't you hate it when your ting jams? I was prepared to take a soul, but Allah had a different plan.'
Boumzough, of no fixed abode, was convicted of murder and attempted murder. The minimum term of 35 years and 169 days means he will be eligible for parole only after serving that time, reflecting the severity of the offense.
