Two killers who hacked a talented teenage footballer to death with a Samurai sword and an 18 inch knife are facing jail.
Francois Kablan, 19, ran a short distance before collapsing and dying on Great Dover Street in Southwark last May 13.
Mr Kablan, from Bermondsey, south London, played in the reserves for Harlow Town FC and scored a hat-trick on his last appearance for the club.
He was described as a ‘wonderful person and player’ by his club.
Francois Kablan (pictured), 19, from Bermondsey, south-east London, was attacked following a confrontation with two males armed with weapons
Two youths, now aged 16 and 17, were cleared of murdering Mr Kablan but convicted of manslaughter after a trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.
Tom Little QC, prosecuting, earlier told jurors the case involved ‘a senseless loss of life’.
He said: ‘That life was snuffed out in the blink of an eye by the joint actions of these two young men, the defendants that sit in the dock.
‘Whatever started it then led to a situation in which these two defendants, both armed with knives, did not back away or run.
The victim, who played for Harlow Town reserves, was pronounced dead at the scene on a residential estate in Great Dover Street in Southwark on May 13 (pictured)
‘Instead they decided to engage, they were, we say, very much up for a fight.
‘These two defendants are good friends, they knew, we say, that each other was armed.
‘They intended to assist each other to carry out the attack.’
He said CCTV reveals they were both present in the area on the day of the killing.
The pair were seen by a woman, who lived in the area.
‘She saw that defendant standing in a car park and she saw one of them kick a yellow cleaning sign over onto a knife on the floor.
‘A blade about 18 inches in length with a white handle.
‘Another witness, her husband noticed the other youth had a samurai sword tucked in his trousers, he had seen him with that knife before.
‘You will want to consider why a 15 year old boy would want or need to have such a dangerous knife in his possession.
‘It was covered by the yellow cleaning sign, which was right next to that motorbike.
‘The CCTV It shows that both the defendants were aware of that knife.
‘There can be no doubt that both the defendants are aware of that knife, that both defendants are making sure it is obtainable from either side of the fence should something happen later.
‘Those that use knives you’d think might be aware there is a risk of being stopped by the police, accordingly it makes sense to have places they are kept should you need them.
Speaking after Mr Kablan’s death Harlow Town Reserves coach Adam Connolly said: ‘Francois was a wonderful person and player’
‘It also makes sense not to have the knife secreted down your waistband throughout the entirety of the day.’
The youths denied and were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
Speaking after Mr Kablan’s death Harlow Town Reserves coach Adam Connolly said: ‘Francois was a wonderful person and player. A lot of our players went to the same college as Francois, so it’s been hard on everyone within the squad to hear of this tragic news.
‘On his last game for Harlow, he scored a superb hat-trick to win us the game and walk away with the match ball. He was certainly a talented footballer and one who could have gone on to feature for the first team.
‘On behalf of all of the squad, and everyone at the club, our thoughts are with his family and friends.’
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran, from the Homicide and Specialist Crime Command, said today (weds):’My thoughts go out to the family and friends of Francois, whose life was needlessly lost far too soon.
‘Whatever instigated this dispute between the two groups quickly led to a situation in which the two defendants – who were both armed with knives – were not prepared to back down. Rather they decided to engage, leading to the most tragic of outcomes. It is clear to me that their intention was to cause at least serious harm to Francois, proving them to be dangerous offenders who have no place on our streets.’