Charlie and Kearne, both 16, were found with stab injuries one mile apart in Abbey Wood and Thamesmead on November 26, 2022.
Charlie was repeatedly stabbed as he lay defenceless on the ground after his moped was rammed by a car full of T-Block (Thamesmead) gang members.
Kearne, who was one of Charlie’s attackers, was accidentally knifed by “one of his own team” during the chaos.
Charlie died at the scene of the attack on Sewell Road, while Kearne was driven to Titmuss Avenue where he died.
They rejected Debonsu’s argument that “confessions” made in phone calls with his girlfriend and friends were bravado and lies designed to increase his “street cred”.
While Debonsu did not stab either victim he admitted being in the car when it hit Charlie and driving the vehicle away with the attackers inside.
In the prison phone calls he claimed the only reason he didn’t stab Charlie was because Charlie had already been stabbed.
But his barrister said his client, angered at being called a “pussy” for not joining in, had been telling a lie here.
“I was being called a pussy and things like that, I was trying to up my credibility and make my part seem like more than it was,” Debonsu claimed.
But Lady Justice Philippa Whipple, writing on behalf of herself, Her Honour Judge Angela Morris and Mr Justice John Cavangh, said the evidence simply does not support that case.
“That, in the end, is the simple answer to this appeal and is our reason for dismissing it,” Lady Justice Whipple wrote.
Lady Justice Whipple said: “It is important to recall that this confession evidence was obtained while the appellant was being held on remand after his arrest and was not a contributing reason to his arrest.
“The police already had a case against him which they considered strong enough to justify arrest and charge.
“The main evidence against the appellant was in the form of CCTV evidence. The vehicle in which the appellant was travelling could be seen to ram Bartolo’s motorbike and send Bartolo flying into the air.
“The appellant and Bah were in that car on the right hand side and furthest from the collision. They both got out and the appellant can be seen having an exchange with Bah who could be seen with a knife.
“The appellant then got into the driver’s seat with the engine on and the foot brake engaged until the others got in and he drove away.
“He admitted having stolen the car and wanting to show it off to his friends. He admitted having a ‘beef’ the Abbey Wood gang. He admitted a history of knife possession. These are all factors which tend to corroborate the prosecution’s case.”
Debonsu will continue to serve a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years.
The other attackers – Alagie Jobe, Hussain Bah and Sammie Shallangwa – are serving life sentences with minimum terms of 25-and-a-half years, 25 years and 18 years respectively.
