21 years for killer of Deliveroo rider

A killer has been jailed for at least 21 years for the murder of a young Deliveroo worker.

Jaden Christie, 20, was brutally knifed in Stockwell, southwest London last 15 September – just two days after he started his new job.

The young victim had just been offered a new position for the food delivery service and harboured dreams of starting his own clothing line.

Jacob Koutouan, 22, chased him down and viciously stabbed him 12 times in Stockwell Road.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics the victim tragically died at the scene.

A post-mortem found the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

Koutouan denied murder, forcing Jaden’s family to sit through an agonising trial in which he claimed he had acted in self-defence.

But a Croydon Crown Court jury saw through the killer’s lies and convicted him of murder.

Koutouan was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years before he can be considered for parole.

Jaden’s family said: ‘Jaden was an amazing and intelligent soul and had so much life and passion to give.

‘A victim to a senseless killer who viciously ended Jaden’s hopes and dreams in a brutal attack.

‘His death has left our family shattered to pieces, distraught, grief-stricken and disheartened over such a malicious act.

‘Jaden wasn’t in a gang, in fact he was very anti gangs and feared the associated violence that comes with it.

‘Jaden was just starting out in life – he got a new job with Deliveroo only two days before his death and had been accepted onto a construction course on the day he died.

‘Jaden had aspirations to own his own clothing line.

‘Jaden loved his family and was the life and soul of every room he entered. Such a positive, vibrant life ended so young without getting to enjoy his future, flourish further and start a family of his own.

‘He’ll be in our hearts eternally but nothing will compare to physically having him alive and here with us.’

Koutouan, of Stockwell Road, Stockwell, denied but was convicted of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood said: ‘This is a tragic case where another young man has lost his life to knife crime leaving a huge gap in the lives of his friends and family.

‘It was very clear that Jaden was subject to a vicious attack where he was chased before being stabbed 12 times.

‘Despite a thorough investigation, we have been unable to establish why this incident took place and why Jacob Koutouan chose to attack Jaden.

‘In the face of all the evidence, Koutouan chose to compound the grief of those close to Jaden with false claims of self-defence at court, an account which was rejected by the jury.

‘I would like to highlight the resilience shown by Jaden’s family throughout what must have been an exceptionally difficult court process. I hope the jury’s verdict will bring some comfort to them.’