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Chilling CCTV footage has captured three teenage killers chasing a 15-year-old boy on their bicycles before stabbing him 18 times in a murder for no reason.
Babacar Diagne suffered 18 stab wounds after being attacked after a chance encounter with his murderers, between 15 and 17 years old, who had never spoken to him before.
Images released by West Midlands Police show the schoolboy cycling to the park with his friends in Wood End, Coventry, on February 5.
One of their killers, who was 15 years old at the time, cycled past the group before turning around and looking at Babacar and his friends.
Then the killer gathered two of his friends, aged 17 and 15, to help him hunt down Babacar.
Babacar Diagne suffered 18 stab wounds after being attacked after a chance encounter with his killers, aged 15 to 17, who had never spoken to him before.
The footage then shows the trio riding their bikes at high speed towards the park.
Minutes later, the trio caught up with Babacar and launched a frenzied attack on him.
His friend watched in horror as the trio stabbed, kicked and hit Babacar before he was warned: ‘Don’t give away, or you’ll get the same.’
His killers then fled the scene and hid at a friend’s home before detectives tracked down them days later.
Minutes later, the trio caught up with Babacar (pictured) and launched a frenzied attack.
The teens, who cannot be legally named, were found guilty of murder after a trial at Warwick Crown Court.
Sean Larkin QC, prosecutor, said: ‘In the evening I had cycled to meet friends in Riley Square.
‘By chance [the first 16-year-old killer] had come to the area before. He was also on a bicycle.
While he was there, and before Babacar arrived, he was looking at Babacar’s friend.
Babacar passed his friend on his bicycle and, in doing so, [the 16-year-old] cycled in the same direction. Babacar returned by bicycle and [the 16-year-old] I also returned by bicycle.
“I did not know Babacar Daigne, or vice versa, as far as the prosecution knows, and they did not speak to each other. This appears to be a serendipitous encounter.
Mr Larkin said: ‘They biked into the park and got on Babacar Diagne, got off their bikes and immediately carried out an unprovoked attack.
Eyewitnesses describe seeing what they thought were hitting and kicking. They threw him to the ground, but kept going.
‘He got up and staggered, and they attacked him again and threw him to the ground and continued with punches and kicks, and ended up with a kick to the head.
His friend watched in horror as the trio stabbed, kicked and hit Babacar before he was warned: ‘Don’t give away, or you’ll get the same.’ In the photo: Police on the scene.
But, in fact, some of what appeared to be punches must have been stabbed.
“ He had 18 wounds, mostly stab wounds to the chest and upper body. Some of them were enough by themselves to have been fatal.
Babacar was found lying on the grass near Petitor Crescent, Wood End, around 7 pm, stabbed to the torso and chest.
Detectives captured the trio when they were caught on CCTV cycling from the crime scene on bikes.
The number and position of the bicycle reflectors showed that it was the same group in each of the clips.
His killers then fled the scene (pictured) and hid at a friend’s house before detectives tracked down them days later.
And they seized CCTV images showing the leader 24 hours before the murder on a bicycle identical to the one used on the day of the attack.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Griffiths said: “There is no clear motive for the savage murder, other than that Babacar was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“ He was new to Coventry and he was getting on his feet. I wanted to make friends and fit in.
“ He was in a part of the city where his face was unknown and a lost look quickly turned to murder.
‘It is totally shocking. These three children murdered a stranger; there was no grudge between them.
Officers seized CCTV footage showing the ringleader 24 hours before the murder on a bicycle identical to the one used on the day of the attack.
When the three criminals ran towards Babacar, no words were exchanged.
“Babacar begged them to stop, but they continued to attack him as he lay defenseless on the ground.”
The 17-year-old went to his girlfriend’s house to change clothes after the stabbing, and when he was arrested he had wounds on his hands.
The other 15-year-old sent a WhatsApp message to his father asking for help to flee the country. It said: “I need to go to Africa * as soon as possible * like tomorrow if I can.”
A 15-year-old girl was also arrested for her comments to the 15-year-old ringleader, but there was insufficient evidence to charge her with the murder.
