A teenager has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for the manslaughter of 22-year-old Kacey Clarke, who was fatally stabbed on Christmas Eve in Bermondsey. The now 17-year-old male, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 26. His sentencing took place on Friday, November 1, at the same court.

The tragic events unfolded on December 24, 2023, when police were called at 10:03 p.m. to reports of a stabbing at a flat on Jamaica Road, SE16. Officers arrived at the scene alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. Despite their efforts to provide emergency first aid, Kacey Clarke succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that her death was caused by a single sharp force trauma to the chest.

The teenage defendant was arrested near the scene by responding officers. He was known to Kacey but cannot be named due to his age. During police questioning, he claimed that Kacey had confronted him with a knife and that he acted in self-defence. However, a detailed investigation by the Metropolitan Police, including the recovery of a blood-stained knife on Rail Sidings Road three weeks after the incident, disproved this claim. Forensic examination confirmed that the knife bore Kacey’s blood.

Detective Inspector Adam Clifton, a senior investigator on the case, commented, “Through a thorough investigation, we were able to disprove many assertions made about Kacey, leading to the jury rejecting the defendant’s claim to have been acting in self-defence. I am pleased that we have been able to secure justice for her.”

He added, “Reducing violence against women and girls remains a key priority for the Met, and I would urge anyone who is suffering abuse to reach out for help.”