Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Saturday 5th April 2025, at 10:25hrs
Two young men have been found guilty of the murder of their former friend, Lucas Sutton, following a meticulously planned and brutal attack in Croydon.
Keahn Williams, 20, of Coulsdon, was convicted on April 26, 2024, and Kai Nelson-Palmer, who was 17 at the time of the offence and is now 18, of Croydon, was found guilty on April 30, 2024, at the Old Bailey.
The pair were sentenced to life imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court on August 14, 2024. Williams will serve a minimum of 23 years, while Nelson-Palmer will serve a minimum of 16 years before being eligible for parole.
Reporting restrictions on the case have now been lifted, allowing the details to be made public.
The court heard how 22-year-old Lucas Sutton was lured to a flat in Princess Road, Croydon, on May 23, 2023. He was then fatally stabbed as he walked back from a local shop with Williams and Nelson-Palmer.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who led the investigation, stated:
“The evidence gathered and presented to the jury built up a clear picture of a plot to lure Lucas to an address in Croydon, act as if nothing was wrong, and then violently attack him.”
The motive behind the deadly attack stemmed from a perceived betrayal. DCI Howie explained, “Lucas and one of the defendants had been friends but in the minds of the group, Lucas had crossed them by attempting to get rid of a firearm he had been holding onto. This perceived betrayal was the motivation for this deadly attack.”
The investigation revealed that in the weeks leading up to his death, Lucas had become aware he was in danger but tragically did not suspect his former friends.
DCI Howie described the murder as a “pre-meditated, callous act that has left Lucas’s family and friends utterly devastated.”
In a poignant joint statement, Lucas’s family expressed the profound impact of their loss:
“The murder of Lucas has left a large hole in our lives which can never be filled. Lucas wasn’t perfect, he made mistakes but he was ours. He had a bright future ahead of him, but it has been taken away from him. They have not only taken away a nephew but a son, a grandson, a brother, a cousin, a father, a partner, a friend and so much more.”
The family highlighted the devastating impact on Lucas’s young son, who “will have to grow up without his best friend and father. It breaks our heart that he will never see his Dad again.”
The events of the day unfolded around 7:00 PM when Lucas went to the flat in Princess Road. He was joined by Williams and Nelson-Palmer, and the three then left to walk to a shop to purchase drinks.
Unbeknownst to Lucas, Williams and Nelson-Palmer had been exchanging Snapchat messages in the days prior, plotting the attack.
As they returned from the shop in Northbrook Road, Williams produced a knife and stabbed Lucas, who was completely unsuspecting. Lucas dropped his drinks and fled, pursued by both attackers. Williams caught up with him in Mayo Road and inflicted further stab wounds before both men fled the scene.
Lucas managed to reach a nearby pub and ask for help before collapsing. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he tragically died a short time later in hospital.
Following the attack, both Williams and Nelson-Palmer returned towards the flat where they had initially met, with Williams later leaving in a taxi.
Detectives investigating the murder meticulously pieced together the events through CCTV analysis, which captured Williams wearing a distinctive balaclava while chasing Lucas.
A similar item of clothing was later found at an address linked to Williams.
Further investigation revealed that Lucas had confided in family and friends in the weeks leading up to his death, expressing that he had upset people and feared for his safety.
Based on the mounting evidence, Williams and Nelson-Palmer were arrested in the week following the murder. Analysis of Nelson-Palmer’s mobile phone uncovered the incriminating messages that detailed their plot.
A 19-year-old man who was also accused in connection with Lucas Sutton’s death was acquitted of murder at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, April 3, 2025.
While the convictions and sentences bring a degree of justice for Lucas Sutton and his family, the profound grief and loss remain.
DCI Howie acknowledged this, stating,
“While those responsible have been held to account for their actions, I know this will do little to ease the unbearable pain Lucas’s loved ones continue to endure.”
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