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[RwandaLibre] 'We fled Rwanda for safer life': Mum's pain as teenager jailed for life
'We fled Rwanda for safer life': Mum's pain as teenager jailed for life
Roree Cox (left) stabbed Kevin Ssali (right) on a bus in Lee, South East London
The mother of a schoolboy stabbed to death has described how she fled Rwanda to the UK after the genocide because she believed it would be safer.
Clemence Mudage said that she feared for her and her son Kevin Ssali's lives, but instead he was murdered on a bus by Roree Cox, 18.
Cox was jailed for 14 years today for murdering the 14-year-old schoolboy with a single knife wound
in Lee, South East London.
He died in his friends' arms who did all they could to comfort him in his final moments of life.
In a statement read to the court Mrs Mudage said: "It was a very difficult time to be born, [Rwanda] was in a violent state after I had survived the genocide.
"I looked at baby Kevin and realised that I needed to get him out of Rwanda to save him."
Kevin was on the number 202 in Lee on his way home when he ridiculed Cox's younger brother's hat and watch.
A friend sent a text message to Cox who happened to be on the number 261 bus travelling close behind.
When the two buses stopped at traffic lights, Roree got off his bus and ran to find his brother,
pulling out a knife which he had hidden in his shoe.
In an attack lasting no more than five seconds he ran onto the bus, up the steps and
stabbed Kevin in the heart before fleeing.

Roree Cox seen getting on the 202 bus in Lee, South East London
Cox, who was on bail for robbery at the time of the killing, was sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 14 years
after being found guilty of murder at an earlier hearing
.
Judge Joseph QC said the killing was a revenge attack resulting from a long-standing feud between the two boys.
"There was a history of bad feeling between the two of you," she said.
"Whenever you came across each other aggression was going to follow and the likelihood was of violence.
"You deliberately armed yourself with a weapon in case you came across a boy or boys with whom you had previously argued.
"Kevin began to taunt and mock your brother and threatened to rob him. He was trying to intimidate him.
"You got on the bus and ran straight upstairs before you got to the top where there was a group of Kevin's friends and Kevin himself who was right by the rail.
"Without hesitation you punched the knife over the rail into Kevin's chest and without hesitation you ran down the stairs and off the bus.
"This was part of an ongoing series of incidents between the two of you and it bears all the hallmarks of a revenge attack."
Cox going up the stairs of the bus where he stabbed Kevin in an attack lasting five seconds
Kevin from South Norwood, managed to stagger off before collapsing with a fatal stab wound to the heart.
Judge Joseph added: "A number of Kevin's friends behaved admirably, holding him and offering the dying boy what comfort they could.
"There can be few more serious crimes than the taking of a life and in this case a young life with all the heartbreak to the dead boy's family.
"Kevin has lost his life and nothing the court can do or say to bring him back.
"I have watched Kevin's parents and family sit through every day of this long trial and they have behaved with dignity and fortitude.'
Mrs Mudage said: "In April 1999 we came to England and were treated very good. We lived in Eltham, Kevin went to nursery and pre-school there.
"He loved football, dancing and singing and made lots of friends in and out of school. He got so excited when it was Sunday because he could go to church and sing.
"We moved to Croydon and Kevin wanted to continue to go to Crown Woods school, he had excellent results and a 100 per cent attendance record.
"This made me very proud of my son. What have I got now - his certificates of achievement and attendance which I will keep to show to his younger brother.
"At the funeral his little brother said 'why are they putting dirt on Kevin? They're hurting him. It broke our hearts and still does every day.
"His brother keeps asking if Kevin is eating dinner in heaven and when he is coming back. I explain that he is never coming back but he doesn't understand.
"We were a happy family with Christian values and how because he took Kevin's life he took his wonderful future and our lives will never be the same again."
Cox, who has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, told the court that Kevin Ssali and his friends bullied him and his brother in the months before the killing on September 15, 2012.
He said that he was told his brother was being robbed on board the bus and knew that Kevin had used a knife in the past.
Cox, from New Cross, was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 14 years. Follow DailyMirror @DailyMirror @richardhp
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