Two convicted of murder of 16-year-old shot in south London

Two people have been found guilty of involvement in the murder of a teen boy who was shot dead in south London by a gunman who disguised himself as a Just Eat food delivery driver.

Neo Duodo-Watson, 18, and Omar Prempeh, 32, were prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service.

On 4 March 2025, 16-year-old Lathaniel Burrell was shot dead outside of a block of residential flats in the middle of the day in Stockwell by Duodo-Watson. 

Shani Taggart, District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “This was a premeditated and calculated attack where both defendants involved went to extraordinary measures in their attempts to evade detection and cover their tracks. While only Neo Duodo-Watson fired the fatal shot, the evidence proved that Omar Prempeh also shared responsibility for assisting and encouraging the murder.

“Their actions led to the tragic loss of Lathaniel Burrell, a 16-year-old boy. Nothing can undo that harm, and our thoughts remain with Lathaniel’s family and loved ones.

“Firearms have no place in our communities. Seeing them in the hands of young people is deeply concerning, and in this case, the consequences were devastating and irreversible.

“Working closely with the police, the Crown Prosecution Service has the powers and determination to build strong cases and ensure that those who play a part in such senseless acts of violence are brought to justice.”

Proving joint enterprise

To prove an offence of murder the prosecution has to call evidence so that a jury can be sure that the defendant either intended to kill or cause really serious injury to the victim. If you intend to cause really serious injury to someone and they subsequently die as a result of your actions, it is classed by law as murder.

Where the prosecution case is one of joint enterprise, prosecutors must prove to a jury beyond reasonable doubt that each defendant played a part in the offence and is therefore guilty of the crime.

The CPS determined that more than one defendant was criminally responsible for Lathaniel’s death. 

Duodo-Watson, aged 17 at the time, was the principal offender as it was his action in firing the firearm that resulted in Lathaniel’s death. But the prosecution was able to use all the available evidence, including CCTV and mobile phone data, to demonstrate to the jury that Prempeh also played a deliberate role in the premeditated attack, and was therefore by law jointly responsible for the murder of Lathaniel Burrell.

The shooting

During the trial, the prosecution presented a meticulously constructed case that drew together multiple strands of evidence which demonstrated each defendant’s role. 

The Old Bailey heard that Prempeh drove Duodo-Watson to and from the scene in a car which had been modified with a special hide in the dashboard to conceal a firearm. CCTV evidence showed that they had circled the area where the shooting was to take place in the hours before. 

Duodo-Watson donned a distinctive bright orange jacket as a disguise for a food delivery driver, before collecting a stolen moped which was placed in a nearby alleyway earlier that day.

He rode the moped, approaching and shooting Lathaniel twice, before the firearm malfunctioned and disintegrated.

Despite the best efforts of members of the public and emergency medical staff, Lathaniel died at the scene.

In interview, Duodo-Watson claimed he had been at home playing video games and took deliberate steps to create the impression that he never left his house that day. He purposefully removed his GPS monitoring tag he was ordered to be wearing and left his phone at home and - before leaving to meet Prempeh - set up an online gaming session on his PlayStation.