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Two men, Keahn Williams, 20, of Coulsdon, and Kai Nelson-Palmer, 17, of Croydon, were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Lucas Sutton, 22, who was killed in a street ambush in Croydon on May 23, 2023. The pair had been found guilty of the murder at the Old Bailey. Williams was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years, while Nelson-Palmer received a minimum of 16 years. Their convictions and sentences can now be reported after the lifting of reporting restrictions.
The court heard that Lucas Sutton had been tricked into meeting the two attackers at a flat on Princess Road in Croydon. After going to a nearby shop with them, Sutton was unexpectedly stabbed by Williams in Northbrook Road. Despite his attempts to flee, Sutton was chased by Williams, who stabbed him again as they ran down Mayo Road. Sutton managed to stumble into a nearby pub seeking help but collapsed shortly after. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but Sutton later died in hospital from his injuries.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who led the investigation, explained that the attackers had planned the ambush, luring Sutton into a false sense of security before carrying out the violent attack. The motive was rooted in a perceived betrayal by Sutton, who had attempted to dispose of a firearm he had been holding onto. In the weeks leading up to the murder, Sutton had confided in friends and family about his growing fear for his safety, although he did not suspect his friends were involved.
Sutton’s family expressed the profound impact of his death in a joint statement, stating that his murder had left a permanent void in their lives. They emphasized that although Sutton wasn’t perfect, he was dearly loved, and he had a bright future ahead of him, which was cruelly taken away. The family mourned the loss not only of a nephew, son, grandson, brother, cousin, father, partner, and friend, but also the heart-wrenching reality that Sutton’s young son would grow up without his father. They reflected on the sorrow of seeing his son watching other children play with their fathers, knowing he would never experience that with his dad.
The investigation revealed that Nelson-Palmer's phone contained messages between the attackers, clearly indicating their plan. CCTV footage from the day of the attack showed Williams chasing Sutton while wearing a distinctive balaclava, which was later linked to Williams when a similar item was recovered from his address.
In a separate development, a 19-year-old man who had also been accused of involvement in Sutton’s murder was acquitted at the Old Bailey on April 3, 2025.
