School bully victim killed by head blow

A teenager was arrested last night by detectives investigating the murder of a 15-year-old who was found dying on a sofa at his home.

Police believe Jude Akapa, who had been a victim of bullies, was killed by a blow to the head as he walked home from school on Wednesday.

The Nigerian-born teenager left St Joseph's Academy, a Roman Catholic boys' school in Blackheath, south-east London, at lunchtime. He was later found by his 13-year-old brother, lying unconscious at his home in Newham at 5pm.

His brother thought he was asleep and not until his mother arrived home at 7pm did the family realise he was seriously ill. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead just after 9pm.

Last night, the arrested boy, aged 16, was being held by police in south-east London.

A post-mortem examination found that Jude had died of head injuries, which police believe were inflicted by a single blow to his left temple with a weapon, although there was no visible mark on his head.

At a press conference at Scotland Yard yesterday, Detective Superintendent Adrian Maybanks said that Jude, who moved to Britain with his family in 1999, had been assaulted six weeks ago by a fellow pupil who is also black and who has since left the school.

Det Supt Maybanks said: "He has been subject to a previous attack at the school which has been investigated. A person was cautioned for the offence but we have not talked to them this time."

Jude was last seen alive at 1.55pm when he walked out of school during lunch break without permission.Anyone with information about his last movements should telephone the police on 020 8247 8275.