Lucas Sutton
In a shocking twist of fate, two young men have been handed life sentences for the brutal murder of their former friend in a premeditated and ruthless attack.
Keahn Williams, 20, from Coulsdon, and Kai Nelson-Palmer, 18, from Croydon, were both found guilty of the chilling murder of Lucas Sutton at the Old Bailey in April 2024.
The pair lured the 22-year-old to his death in a calculated betrayal that has left the victim’s family and the public horrified.
On 14 August 2024, the two were sentenced to life imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court, with Williams ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years, while Nelson-Palmer will face at least 16 years behind bars. The devastating sentence followed a gruelling investigation that exposed the cold-hearted plot to lure Sutton into a deadly trap.
According to the Met Police, on the fateful evening of 23 May 2023, Lucas Sutton, unaware of the deadly conspiracy set in motion by those he considered friends, walked to a flat in Princess Road, Croydon.
Little did he know that Keahn Williams and Kai Nelson-Palmer had already decided his fate. The attackers, who had been plotting his murder in secret Snapchat messages, seized the opportunity to strike as they accompanied Lucas on a routine trip to buy drinks.
With chilling precision, Williams pulled out a knife and stabbed Lucas in a shocking act of violence. Caught completely off guard, Lucas dropped his drinks and fled in a desperate attempt to escape. But his tormentors gave chase, with Williams stabbing him again as he ran for his life. Desperate for help, Lucas staggered into a nearby pub before collapsing, where paramedics fought in vain to save him.
The harrowing murder stemmed from a petty betrayal. According to detectives, the two killers believed Lucas had crossed them by attempting to dispose of a firearm he had once held onto. This perceived act of disloyalty set the stage for the ruthless and senseless attack, carried out by men who once called him a friend.
The investigation revealed that Lucas had been feeling increasingly isolated and fearful in the weeks leading up to his death.
His family spoke of his growing anxiety as he confided in them that he had upset people and feared for his safety. Tragically, he was right to be afraid, but he never suspected his closest allies would be the ones to bring about his untimely end.
Lucas’s family has been left heartbroken by the loss, describing the hole left in their lives as “unfillable.” In a joint statement, they mourned not just a son, but a father, a brother, and a friend—a life cut short by an unforgivable betrayal. “He had a bright future ahead of him,” they said, “but it was taken from him.”
What makes this tragedy even more unbearable is that Lucas leaves behind a young son who will grow up never knowing his father. The grief-stricken family expressed their pain as they watched his son play with other fathers, knowing he will never have the same opportunity to share those moments with Lucas.
Thanks to meticulous detective work, CCTV footage, and phone evidence uncovered the true nature of the attack. Investigators tracked the movements of the killers, identifying Williams wearing a distinctive balaclava as he pursued Lucas down the street. The chilling final moments of Lucas’s life were pieced together, and the plotters were swiftly arrested.
Though justice has been served, the deep scars left by this violent act will never fade for those who loved Lucas. The trial revealed the chilling reality of how close friends can turn into cold-blooded killers, driven by vengeance and betrayal.
