Two teen thugs who killed 88-year-old grandmother by stuffing lit firework through her letterbox ‘for a laugh’ are jailed

Two teen thugs who killed an 88-year-old grandmother by stuffing a lit a firework through her letterbox ‘for a laugh’ have been jailed.

Josephine Smith died in a fire caused by Kai Cooper, 19, and a boy, 17, who had spent the night terrorising residents in Romford, east London.

Mrs Smith, a Blitz survivor and grandmother of seven, lived alone and was upstairs sleeping in Queens Park Road when the 17-year-old posted the firework on October 28, 2021, a week before Bonfire Night.

Cooper had bought the fireworks and dared the other boy to put it through the door.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, admitted manslaughter and arson. Cooper denied manslaughter and arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered but was convicted by the jury. Both admitted affray by letting off fireworks in the street, near cars and passers-by.

Throughout the trial Cooper had incensed the family of Mrs Smith by leering and gurning at them from the dock whenever the jury were absent.

The jury found him guilty unanimously after two hours and 30 minutes of deliberation. The 17-year-old will serve three years and eight months and Cooper will serve six years and six months, both in Young Offenders institutions.

Sentencing the pair today, Judge Mark Dennis said: ‘On that fateful day in October 2021, you both had mischief in mind and an intention to cause trouble to a much-loved vulnerable person.’

They showed no emotion as they were led to the cells of the Old Bailey.

Josephine Smith

Judge Dennis did not invite Mrs Smith’s son, Adam Smith, to speak of the impact of her death on him and his family.

He said: ‘I do not invite speeches in relation to impact statements from the victim’s family. I have already read the impact statements in full and I take into consideration the age of the defendants, their mental health and welfare.’

Mr Adam Smith had attended every day of his mother’s trial. He was accompanied today by Lucy Smith, Mrs Smith’s granddaughter.

Prosecutor Ms Heidi Stonecliffe, KC, said: ‘They have written movingly and affectionately about their relationships with Mrs Smith and the impact her loss has had on all of them.

‘[The pair] posted that firework through the letterbox with what can only be described as devastating, tragic and ultimately fatal result.

‘Lucy Smith, the granddaughter, Derek Smith, Mrs Smith’s late husband, and Adam Smith were present whilst ambulance workers were working on their grandmother and stayed with her grandmother until they knew there was nothing left that could be done.’

Mrs Smith’s cause of death was recorded as ‘smoke inhalation’.

The pair bought the fireworks from a shop called ‘Fireworks4sale’ in Harold Wood and threw them at a restaurant, pub and library.

Cooper told the shopkeeper Mark Vardy: ‘I’m going to throw it in their face bro’, ‘Which are the best ones to let off at people, not gonna do damage, but shoot off and go bang’ and ‘people are going to get terrorised tonight.’

Two days before the incident the pair bragged how they had attacked a woman and Cooper had encouraged the younger boy to stamp on her face.

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Kai Cooper

They hurled fireworks at a couple outside a fish and chip shop, and it rolled across the man’s foot before exploding.

Cooper denied encouraging the 17-year-old, then 15, but CCTV caught him gesturing towards Mrs Smith’s home.

Ms Stonecliffe earlier said: ‘He encouraged him for a laugh, because it was fun for him.’

After the ‘Mega Burst’ firework was posted at the pensioner’s home, two explosions were seen on CCTV lighting up Mrs Smith’s windows. Neighbours smelt smoke two hours later but significant fire damage had been done and Mrs Smith was found dead.

Cooper’s girlfriend Lauren Delossantos, then 18, was also with the boys and arrested but was released without further action. She was heard on CCTV shouting ‘no’ as fireworks were lit.

The teenager said Cooper had ‘dared’ the teen to post the firework and the younger boy was laughing as he ran across the road to do so. Mrs Smith had lived in the Harold Wood area her whole life.

Ms Stonecliffe said: ‘They acted as a team. Kai handed the [then] 15-year-old the fireworks. The 15-year-old took a Mega Burst firework that Kai had bought. He ran across the road to 8 Queens Park Road where Josephine Smith was in bed, likely asleep.

‘He lit the firework and he put it through her letterbox. Two explosions occurred in quick succession, just like the ones they had caused in the street. Those explosions caused a fire to start that burnt through Mrs Smith’s house.

‘By the time the fire service arrived the property was filled with smoke and Mrs Smith was pronounced dead just before 10 past 11.’

A day before their attack on Mrs Smith, video footage from the pair’s phones showed Cooper egging-on the 17-year-old to attack a woman in Ilford town centre.

Ms Stonecliffe said: ‘A young woman is seen walking towards the camera that Mr Cooper was holding. The 17-year-old was holding a long pole. He used the pole to lash out and strike her as she was putting her hands up to shield her face.’

Cooper was heard in the video shouting: ‘Smoke her, smoke her bro.’

When the woman lay on the ground said: ‘Boot her in the face. Just one tap in her face bro. Go on, do it, one boot on her face bro.’

The 17-year-old hit out and the pair were seen walking away leaving the woman on the pavement behind them.

For this attack, Cooper received six weeks in a Young Offenders institution.. The 17-year-old received a four-month Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Cooper, of Cleve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, denied but was convicted of manslaughter and arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

He admitted affray by setting off fireworks in the street.

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