A third teenager has been charged over the murder of two 16-year-old boys in south-east London

A third teenager has been charged over the murders of two 16-year-old boys a mile apart in south-east London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Kearne Solanke was stabbed in Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead, and Charlie Bartolo was found with stab wounds in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, on Saturday November 26.

Hussain Bah, 18, of south-east London was arrested on Friday, 2 December. He appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 3 December, charged with the murders of Charlie Bartolo and Kearne Solanke.

Undated handout photo issued by Metropolitan Police of Kearne Solanke (left) and Charlie Bartolo. A third teenager has been charged over the murders of two 16-year-old boys a mile apart in south-east London, the Metropolitan Police said. Solanke was stabbed in Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead, and Bartolo was found with stab wounds in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, on Saturday November 26. Issue date: Saturday December 3, 2022.
Metropolitan Police

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 6 December.

An investigation was launched after police were called at around 17:10hrs on Saturday, 26 November to reports of two people injured at two separate locations - Sewell Road, Abbey Wood and Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead.

Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. At the Sewell Road location they found 16-year-old Charlie Bartolo, with stab wounds. Kearne Solanke, also 16, was discovered in Titmuss Avenue. He had also suffered stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, both boys sadly died.

Two males – [B] aged 16 and [C] aged 15 – have been charged with the murders and appeared at Bexley Magistrates' Court on Friday, 2 December. They were remanded into youth custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 6 December.

A 16-year-old boy [A] who was arrested on Sunday, 27 November – also on suspicion of both murders - has now been released on bail pending further enquiries and is due back to a south London police station in February 2023.