UK is becoming a WAR ZONE as BLACK deaths increase

[Anthea]

Three injured in two attacks
over 24 hours in Streatham

An air ambulance was dispatched to Sunnyhill Road, Streatham, following an assault just before 3pm

One person was taken to hospital with head injuries and the public were advised to avoid the area.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said their first responder arrived at the scene in under two minutes.

“We were called at 2.42pm today to reports of an assault on Sunnyhill Road, Streatham", they said.

“We dispatched two ambulance crews, an incident response officer, and a medic in a car, with the first of our medics arriving in under two minutes. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

“A person was assessed for head injuries at the scene and taken to a major trauma centre.”

It comes after a double stabbing incident on Streatham High Road on Monday evening.

A 16-year-old and 17-year-old were found with stab wounds outside Streatham station at 6.10pm.

The 16-year-old is still fighting for his life after receiving multiple stab wounds. The 17-year-old had a single stab wound to the arm.

Local Councillor Malcolm Clark said that police are stepping up patrols in the area in reponse to the incident.

There is no indication that the two incidents are connected.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t ... 43026.html

[Anthea]

Hitman guilty of double murder

A hitman who shot dead an innocent mother-of-nine and her sleeping nephew is facing life in prison after it took five trials to convict him of the double murder



Obina Ezeoke, 28, snuck into the East Finchley home of Annie Ekofo, 53, in the early hours of the morning and shot dead student Bervil Kalikaka-Ekofo, 21, as he slept.

Ezeoke then turned the gun on Mrs Efoko when she rushed out of her bedroom to investigate the disturbance.

The drug dealer was first put on trial over the September 2016 double murder in 2017, but the case had to be aborted due to the judge being struck down with chronic back pain.

Juries in the re-trial and a third trial were deadlocked on their verdicts and a fourth trial was ordered, but that was then abandoned when the coronavirus crisis struck.

At the Old Bailey this morning, a fifth jury finally delivered guilty verdicts against Ozeoke, condemning him to two mandatory life sentence.

The court has heard that the shooting may have been a revenge hit after footage of Ezeoke was shared on social media, but the intended target is believed to have been Ms Ekofo's son Ryan Efey. Ezeoke insisted in his defence case that he was not the gunman.

Mark Heywood QC described how “an assassin crept noiselessly into a second-floor family home” as six occupants slept.

He said: “The killer moved to his left and into a bedroom. There ahead of him was a young man, sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor under a duvet.

“For the killer this was as good a target as he could expect – a young man of the house of just the right age.

“He crept forward, gun in hand. He raised the muzzle and placed it almost against the back of the sleeping, dreadlocked head.

“And then, with a deliberation and purpose that was as much cowardly as it was murderous, he pulled the trigger.”

After Ezeoke had unleashed “hell”, Mrs Ekofo went into the hall, dressed only in her underwear, jurors were told. Instead of waving his revolver to scare her off, the killer pulled the trigger for a second time, the court heard.

Mr Heywood told jurors that “cowardly” Ezeoke had gone to the flat deliberately to kill one of the teenage boys in the family as “part of a vendetta of violence”.

He said: “His hate was such that he did not falter when confronted by a second person – he simply took her life as well.

“In fact both lives were innocent. The young man he killed was a cousin, visiting at short notice, for one night only.”

Ezeoke had admitted dealing in Class A drugs, and said he was the victim of a serious assault in 2014, after which he switched to dealing cannabis instead.

The key evidence against him centred around firearms residue found in Ezeoke’s car, which was used in the getaway, and on his top recovered from a female friend’s home.

Ezeoke told successive juries that he had an alibi for time of the shootings.

He claimed his Vauxhall Meriva had been leased from a man who took it back the day before the murder.

He attempted to explain the presence of the gunshot residue saying the vehicle, which was registered under false details, must have been used in a previous shooting.

The fifth jury to try the case deliberated for 41 hours over eight days to find Ezeoke of Cambridge Heath, east London, guilty of two counts of murder.

Mrs Justice Cutts remanded him in custody until sentencing on October 1.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/o ... 43541.html

[Anthea]

Islington stabbing

Teenager' dies after being knifed in north London

A male, believed to be a teenager, has been knifed to death in north London.

Emergency services were scrambled to North Road in Islington at 8pm on Monday.

The victim was found suffering from stab injuries. Despite the best efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were working to establish the identify the male, who officers believed to be a teenager.

There have been no arrests.

A crime scene was in place and an investigation has been launched.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t ... 47366.html

[Anthea]

Stockwell stabbing

A 20-year-old man has been stabbed to death in south London

Emergency services were called shortly before 3pm on Tuesday to Stockwell after a man was found with stab injuries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene in Stockwell Road, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police said his next of kin has been informed.

"At this very early stage there have been no arrests," the Met said in a statement.

"A crime scene is in place and an investigation is underway. A Section 60 has been authorised for the SW9 area."

The order came into force at 3.45pm on Tuesday and will remain in place until 6am on Wednesday.

"The aim of this is to help prevent further violence," the Met said.

Any witnesses or those with information are asked to call 101 ref CAD 4289/15 Sept.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/s ... 48221.html

[Anthea]

Double stabbing near
Wandle Park Croydon

Police have arrested five men on suspicion of attempted murder after a fight in Croydon led to a double stabbing



The fight was spotted in the Wandle Park area at about 9.15pm on Saturday (September 12) when police were called.

When they arrived they found a man thought to be in his 20s with stab wounds on Waddon New Road, near one of the entrances to the park. He was rushed to hospital and his condition is now said to be stable.

Four men were arrested nearby, all on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police continued to search the area and stopped a vehicle on nearby Duppas Hill Lane in which another man in his 20s was found with a stab wound.

He was taken to hospital though has since been discharged.

The driver of that vehicle was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The five arrested men all remain in custody, police said.

The full statement from Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at around 21:15hrs on Saturday, 12 September to reports of an altercation in the area of Wandle Park, Croydon.

"Officers attended and found a male, believed to be aged in his 20s, suffering from stab injuries on Waddon New Road, CR0.

Wandle Park on a beautiful summer's day
Wandle Park (Image: David Cook)

"He was taken to hospital where his condition was assessed as stable.

"Four men – all in their 20s - were arrested nearby on suspicion of attempted murder. All remain in custody.

"Officers continued to search the area and following a vehicle stop on Duppas Hill Lane, another man in his 20s was found with a stab injury.

"The driver of the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.

"The victim, aged in his 20s,was taken to hospital and has since been discharged.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-lo ... r-18926444

[Anthea]

Sgt Ratana's murder

Four crime scenes being 'painstakingly' searched over Sgt Ratana's murder

Police are "painstakingly" searching four crime scenes in connection with the killing of an police officer in Croydon on Friday (September 25).

Sergeant Matiu Ratana died after a 23-year-old gunman opened fire inside the Croydon Custody Centre in the early hours of Friday, while the suspect - who was handcuffed at the time of the shooting - remains in a critical condition.



Giving an update on Saturday evening, deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy said investigators have CCTV from the custody suite and body-worn video from the officers.

The suspect has not been spoken to yet due to his condition, he added.

The four locations where detailed searches are taking place are:

Croydon Custody Centre, where the shooting occurred

An area of London Road, Pollards Hill where the suspect was initially arrested by officers

An address on Southbrook Road, Norbury

A second address on Park Road, Banstead, Surrey, where local police officers from Surrey Police are assisting.

Enquiries at these locations include "rigorous forensic searches" which are expected to take days to complete.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Cundy said the four crime scenes which were being "painstakingly" searched, adding: "We have recovered the gun from the custody suite where Matt was shot and that gun is being forensically examined.

Investigations are continuing into how the suspect, who had been detained in an area of London Road, Pollards Hill for possession of ammunition and possession of class B drugs, was able to access the weapon.

Deputy Assistant Commander Cundy, who is leading the investigation, said Friday was a "dark and sad day for the police family" and offered his thoughts to Sgt Ratana's partner, family and colleagues.

He added: "Everyone working on this investigation, from the forensic specialists to the local officers holding the cordons, does so with a heavy heart but a determination to find justice for our colleague and his family."

Tributes have poured in for the popular officer, who was also head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club.

Sgt Ratana, known as Matt to family and friends, thought working in the custody suite was his "safest option" as he neared the end of his lengthy police career, friend Neil Donohue said.

He told BBC Breakfast: "He thought it was his safest option just to see him through to his retirement and no-one expected this to happen - certainly not within the police cells."

He described the officer as "the most nicest, generous man you could meet", and said he was "just a really genuinely nice guy".

Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick described Sgt Ratana as a "talented police officer" and said he was "big in stature, big in heart, friendly, capable, a lovely man and highly respected by his colleagues".

The suspect also shot himself during the incident at about 2.15am on Friday and is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.



No police firearms were fired and the case is not being treated as terror-related.

He was not regarded a subject of interest by security services, the PA news agency understands, but reports suggest he may have previously been referred to the anti-extremism Prevent programme.

Following the shooting investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog attended the scene.

[Anthea]

Young man gunned down in West London

Shakur Hassan, 23, died after being shot just yards from Hayes town centre at 10pm on Tuesday



A 15-year-old girl was among the bystanders who tried to save his life .

A burned out car believed to have been involved the killing was found three miles from the scene of the shooting.

Two men, aged 31 and 21, were arrested in connection with the incident. They were taken to a west London police station and subsequently released with no further action. A post-mortem examination is yet to be held.

Detective Inspector Katherine Goodwin, who is leading the investigation said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with Shakur’s family and friends. I want to reassure them and the wider community that my team and I are working hard to piece together the circumstances that led to this tragic outcome.

“The investigation is very much in its early stages and we continue to follow all lines of inquiry and remain open minded as to who was responsible. I am keen to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of Austin Road at the time of the incident. Did you see anything suspicious? Do you have footage or information that could assist my team? Please share anything you saw with either the police or Crimestoppers, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.”

A witness at the scene said: “I was with my 15-year-old daughter and we saw the young man on the ground. He was not speaking he was in a terrible way. My daughter phoned the police.

Some people brought a towel and tried to stop the blood. My daughter was traumatised. She was not even able to go to school the next day.”

Flowers, candles and balloons were left at the crime scene on Austin Road by friends and family. One card said: “RIP Bro forever in my head. The kindest soul fallen. Rest in eternal peace.”

Another said “sleep tight” and a third “Love you always.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/h ... 71884.html

[Anthea]

The Black on Black attacks continue but are seldom reported unless they result in death. This is one of the worst incidents:

Two year old boy shot in head

The grandmother of a two-year-old boy who survived being shot in the head "by sheer chance" today appealed for people to speak to police as they offered a £20,000 reward

Lillian Serunkuma said the attack on the child, who survived after the bullet missed an artery by just a millimetre, had “perplexed” her and she worried that someone who would do that “is a risk to the community”.

She has appealed for people with information to “do the right thing” and come forward to help police after the shooting in Harlesden on Wednesday, June 3.

The boy’s mother was also hit multiple times as she tried to shield the boy inside a car outside the family home.

Along with offering the reward for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible, Scotland Yard also released CCTV of a moped they believe was involved in the incident.
[LillianSerunkuma201020.jpg]

Lillian Serunkuma is urging people with information to come forward with information over the attack

Two young men in their late teens were also wounded in the attack in Energen Close at around 9.45pm by a gunman it is believed left on a moped. Two other children were present in the car but were unharmed.

Detectives believe a man carrying a hand gun fired a shot at one of the teenage men and then fired into a car containing the boy, his mother and the other teenage male.

The injuries sustained are expected to have a long-lasting impact on the victims, police said.

It was the second tragedy to strike the family of Ms Serunkuma, whose son Quamari Serunkuma-Barnes, 15, was stabbed to death walking home from school in January 2017.

Ms Serunkuma said: “This situation has had me perplexed by the actions of the person who did this and as much as I appeal to those who have any information I also understand their reluctance to say anything, however I urge them to do the right thing as this could have happened to anyone.

“The perpetrator chose to do this to innocent victims, therefore this is not a person that should be free if anyone knows something. I worry that someone with that mind-set is a risk to the community. This is something no family should have to deal with. The fact that an innocent child was also a victim, it’s important that people acknowledge this should never happen and any information however insignificant at the time may be important now.”

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Wallis, Specialist Crime North, who leads the investigation, said: “This was an appalling attack that left a little boy fighting for his life and, by sheer chance, did not end in a fatality. We have worked around the clock to try and find those responsible but we need the public’s help. We are now offering a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for this attack.

Six people have previously been arrested in connection with the investigation.

A 19-year-old and two men aged 20 were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Three men aged 23, 29 and 37-year-old man were all arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The 29-year-old was later arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

They have all been released under investigation.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/f ... 72232.html

[Anthea]

Drill rap videos are increasingly
being used as evidence in trials

Drill music has captured headlines since it started to emerge in the UK in 2012. With its often provocative lyrics, it's been blamed by police for fuelling violence

It is also increasingly being used as evidence in trials with courts hearing allegations it incites gang rivalries. But some defence lawyers and academics say it stops defendants - often young black men - getting a fair trial. The BBC has looked into the detail of dozens of prosecutions across the UK.

Wood Green on 2 February 2019 was "more reminiscent of a Hollywood film than a winter's night in north London", the Old Bailey was told.

CCTV images showed mums with buggies fleeing as masked men ran amok with long knives. One man was shot and stabbed eight times but miraculously survived. Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck, 19, was less fortunate. He was chased into a hair salon where terrified customers, staff and children watched helplessly as he was stabbed to death.

Five people were charged with his murder and put on trial. Three of them were just 16.

Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck died after being stabbed five times

The defendants could all be placed at the scene. But not all of them took part in the actual stabbing. The prosecution had to prove they were jointly guilty of murder.

This is where drill music came in. It helped to tie the defendants together and establish a motive.

'Postcode killings'

There was a "beef" between street gangs, the court heard. Most of those on trial were linked to the gang known as Northumberland Park Killers. Their victims were linked to the rival Wood Green Mob. In these "postcode killings", it was N17 versus N22.

Others had previously lost their lives in the long-running feud and the hatred was played out in drill videos uploaded to YouTube.

The court heard how 'Trills' Tyrell Graham, one of the defendants, had rapped about a fatal gang shooting the previous year. We were shown the lyrics.

Park Lane bopping, the opps dem dropping. Come here, I got you a coffin, 12 gauge long like Kelvin's coffin.

The first line is a reference to attacking opponents. The second to the victim.

The prosecution claimed there were only two possible explanations for Tyrell Graham's lyrics: "Either they describe the life he already leads or they describe the life he aspires to lead."

Drill lyrics were presented as evidence the defendants had embraced a culture of violence. The jury agreed what took place that night was an "organised sortie into enemy territory". They found all five guilty of murder.

"These sentences take some very dangerous young criminals off the streets of the capital," the Crown Prosecution Service said.

But for some experts the trial raised questions.

They asked is it fair for a violent musical subculture to be used as evidence of involvement in crime? Or does drill - unlike other music - encourage acts of violence?

'It's out to shock'

Defenders of UK drill and rap argue it's an art form that shouldn't be taken literally.

It uses violent language and imagery, but as one defence lawyer puts it, the Rolling Stones sang 'I'll stick my knife right down your throat, baby' but "it doesn't mean (Mick) Jagger was involved in gangs".

Eithne Quinn, an academic at the University of Manchester, worries about the use of drill as evidence.

She has worked as a defence expert witness on almost 20 trials and says juries are often shown videos featuring young men in balaclavas and masks, rapping about stabbings and drug dealing.

They will be told "this is like a diary entry, this is like a confession", she says.

Dr Quinn says drill rap is "a very violent form" of expression. "It's out to shock. The music's meant to alienate parents."

But she says the provocative posturing of the rapper is part and parcel of a popular genre and shouldn't be taken at face value.

"It has no place in the courtroom," says Dr Quinn who set up the Prosecuting Rap research project to widen understanding of what she considers the dangers of relying on drill and rap for court testimony.

She acknowledges "there are isolated instances when drill has incited violence" but says drill is now being used in lots of cases and although it can initially look like there's a correlation between a rap and a violent act, "when you look at it properly it falls away, it's not credible".

Drill defendants

The BBC looked at nearly 70 trials across the UK from 2005 where drill and rap was used in evidence. Most were in the last two years and often rappers were on trial. Many featured allegations of murder.

The vast majority of the defendants were young black men and boys. We identified a total of 232 people facing trial in the 67 cases. Only eight of them were female. Almost half were teenagers.

Working with academics Eithne Quinn and Abenaa Owusu-Bempah, the BBC looked at nearly 70 trials across the UK

We should be "seriously concerned about what's happening in our courtrooms", says Abenaa Owusu-Bempah, an expert in criminal evidence at the London School of Economics.

She says the high number of black defendants "indicates a targeting of rap music because we aren't seeing it with other genres of music".

Prosecutors draw on "stereotypical imagery about young black men and boys as criminals" and use drill "to amplify pre-existing stereotypes", she says.

She has identified 30 cases which were appealed. Only one was successful.

For prosecutors that indicates the reliability and relevance of this type of evidence.

But for Assistant Professor Owusu-Bempah, "police, prosecutors and courts do not acknowledge or appreciate the artistic value of rap music".

The reformed rapper

Black and white photo of Rosca Onyaimage copyrightMatt Brown / MBP

Rosca Onya was 17 when he was convicted of firearm offences in 2010, after being arrested in a taxi by armed police in south-east London. Officers found a loaded handgun in a footwell of the car.

It was before the UK drill scene took off but prosecutors used YouTube videos of him rapping as evidence of his gang membership.

Onya protested they were "to attract the attention of a record producer".

At an appeal hearing judges had to consider if "the video was part of art" or "part of the life of warring gangs in south London".

In November 2010 they ruled the videos were relevant despite being made six months before the crime as they helped the jury understand the defendant's "disposition". His conviction was upheld and he spent over nine years in prison where he was rehabilitated and given therapy.

First being exposed to violence growing up in Democratic Republic of Congo, he says he was encouraged into street gangs by older boys soon after arriving in the UK as a nine-year-old refugee.

He acknowledges the police have to protect the public and doesn't deny his involvement in crime. But he says his youthful rapping was used unfairly against him in court.

"Young kids that were growing up in an environment that was chaotic in south London that's all we knew, that's all we saw. Of course I'm gonna talk about what I'm seeing around me... the drug dealing and young people getting into trouble."

He says his raps portrayed him as "a monster". His lyrics were presented as evidence that "I was gonna shoot my rival gangs and that wasn't the case". Rap is a form of poetry in which "you are telling a story", he adds.

Rosca Onya and Jack Merrittimage copyrightRosca Onya
image captionRosca Onya said Jack Merritt gave him a voice

Now, aged 29 and out of prison, Onya is using rap music to rebuild his damaged life.

"Music is a go-to tool for a lot of people to cope," he says.

This week he is recording a new track, Patience, following the success of his song in praise of Jack Merritt, the man who helped turn his life around and who was murdered in a terrorist attack in London.

Onya isn't a drill rapper but he says it isn't dangerous. "These are kids finding a voice and trying to do something better with it."

'Think about what you're saying'

For police and the Crown Prosecution Service the instant sharing of videos on social media means they've seen violent disputes escalate quickly.

Recently-issued guidance from the CPS to prosecutors noted that "gangs are increasingly using drill music and social media to promote gang culture".

They point to 'diss' videos in which rivals are taunted.

In December 2018 five young people were accused of killing a 17-year-old boy in Nottingham because of a dispute inflamed by drill videos. Lyrico Steede mocked his rivals as the "Athlete Gang' because they ran away from fights.

In retaliation he was lured to a park and repeatedly stabbed. Days later one of his alleged killers, Kasharn Campbell, 19, could be seen rapping in a video allegedly referring to the stabbing.

He and another man were convicted of murder. Three teenagers were found guilty of manslaughter.

"It is not for me to express a view about your or anyone's taste in music," the judge told the defendants. "But this is a case about stabbing, and so much of that music is about stabbing."

In June 2019 the Met Police set up Project Alpha where officers from police gang units monitor social media sites for evidence or intelligence about crime.

That means monitoring drill videos where "gangs have openly called out each other", says Detective Inspector Kieran McAuliffe.

"What we're looking at is opportunities where we can intervene to stop some of the violence on the streets of London."

New figures given to the BBC show that since November 2016 the Met has made 579 referrals for "potentially harmful content" to be removed from social media platforms - 522 were removed, mostly from YouTube.

The police deny they are censoring freedom of expression. "We are not here to suppress drill music. It's fine to use it as an outlet," says DI McAuliffe, but he adds: "Just think about what you're saying."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55617706

[Anthea]

Four guilty of Wolverhampton boy murder

Keelan Wilson was 15 when he was stabbed more than 40 times



Four men have been found guilty of murdering a boy stabbed more than 40 times in a "well-planned execution".

Keelan Wilson, 15, was fatally injured on Langley Road in Merry Hill, Wolverhampton, on 29 May, 2018.

The four murderers acted "like a pack of animals" amid rising gang violence in the city, police said.

Keelan's mother Kelly Ellitts said the convictions meant justice for her son, but added "nothing would bring Keelan back".

It emerged a few days after the murder that when an ambulance was called for the wounded boy, his final words included "tell my mum I love her".

The trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the night time attack - carried out by Brian Sasa and Nehemie Tampwo, each aged 20, along with Tyrique King and Zenay Pennant-Phillips, both 19 - was "not in any way spontaneous".

Det Sgt Nick Barnes from the West Midlands force said Keelan had the "single worst set of injuries" he had seen on a victim in more than six years investigating homicide.



Clockwise from top left: Zenay Pennant-Phillips, Brian Sasa, Tyrique King and Nehemie Tampwoimage

There had been increasing acts of violence between opposing gangs leading up to the murder, including disorder earlier that day, police said.

That included weapons being brandished in Wolverhampton city centre, and in another incident, Keelan and two others being shot at by a group of youngsters on bikes. No one was hurt.

But later on, the court heard, the group of four killers ran towards Keelan as he sat in a taxi close to his home, then pulled open the rear door and "set about him with weapons", inflicting more than 40 knife wounds.

Keelan Wilson's mother Kelly Ellitts 'hit the floor' when she saw he had been stabbed

Michael Duck QC, prosecuting, said the killing "was not in any way a spontaneous act of violence".

He said: "This was a well-planned, targeted group attack by a number of youths armed with knives, and that was with the plan to execute another young man."

During the 13-week trial, jurors heard there was evidence to suggest the victim had "become embroiled in gang culture", with his killers believing he had switched factions.

Det Sgt Barnes said it was "difficult" to pinpoint a motive "because Keelan wasn't on the police radar particularly for any such activity".

Keelan was wounded just metres from his home, receiving 43 stab wounds in total, according to police.

He had been driving with a friend - with whom he met up after the shooting incident - when their car broke down, which led to a taxi being called.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said while Keelan was attacked on boarding the vehicle, his friend was "left unscathed" and fled, making it "evident" to authorities that "Keelan was the only target".

The taxi driver sustained a minor cut.

Ms Ellitts said she lived with the shock of her son's death daily.

"This isn't something that you think of every now and again, this is a daily thing that you have to live with

"It's terrible my daughters won't know who he is."

Sasa, of Long Ley, Heath Town, Wolverhampton; King, of Chelwood Gardens, Wolverhampton; Tampwo of Fern Grove in Bletchley, Milton Keynes; and Pennant-Phillips, whose address cannot be published for legal reasons, had all denied murder.

"Keelan was a child who had his whole life ahead of him," Det Sgt Barnes said.

The convictions, he added, came after a "very difficult and long investigation," with more than 2,000 lines of inquiry having to be examined.

Some lines of investigation had been met with a "wall of silence," he said.

Judge Michael Chambers said: "It is an utter tragedy that a 15-year-old child lost his life at the hands of others who are barely older than he."

Sentencing is set to take place at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 19 March.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... m-55705479

I cannot think of a punishment suitable for these four:

Execution - only if it was slow and painful - I would suggest stabbing them each once a day for forty days

Prison where these savages will no doubt become HEROES to other gang members

I cannot think of a bad enough punishment

These monsters must never be allowed out again

Nor should they be allowed to mix with other prisoners

Perhaps we should start taking ideas from ISIS

Cutting parts of their bodies off with a blunt knife

[Anthea]

Boy 17 stabbed to death

The family of a 17 year old student stabbed to death in north London have paid tribute to a “quiet lovely boy” who dreamed of being a pilot



Anas Mezenner was found suffering knife wounds on West Green Road, near Turnpike Lane station, just after 9pm on Tuesday.

Medics and police officers performed roadside CPR before the teenager was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4.25am.

A friend of the teenager said Anas, a keen gamer and Liverpool fan, had been attacked after confronting muggers who stole another friend’s phone.

The teenager’s mother told the Standard: “He was a lovely boy who had done nothing wrong. He dreamed of being a pilot.”

His brother, 21, said: “He was very quiet. He wouldn’t hurt anyone. He loved football and his family. He was never in any trouble he was not in any gang or anything like that.”

Anas had been studying media at college in Islington after completing his GCSEs and dreamed of becoming a pilot, his family said. His brother added: “He was always watching documentaries on flying, that was what he wanted to do.

“Legends always die young.”

The teenager’s father received the news of his son’s death while on a trip to Algeria, where the family are from. He is flying back to the UK. Anas had two brothers and two sisters.

A friend told the Standard: “He was at home all day and then received a call saying a friend’s phone was stolen. He went to help but was attacked, his friends managed to get away.

“His family are devastated.”

The friend added: “He was a good guy, nothing to do with gangs or anything like that. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“He was trying to help a friend.”

Witnesses Dario Trentini, 36, a Mayfair restaurant worker, saw the victim teenager slumped on the ground following the attack.

He said: “I tried to help but the police arrived and tried to give him CPR."

Murder squad detectives and forensics officers were seen trawling the area for evidence on Wednesday.

A crime scene tent near a bus stop marked the spot where the boy fell.

The boy died was attacked a patch of communal green space. Witnesses describing how they heard screaming and shouting before emergency services arrived on the scene.

One said: “There was one hell of a row then blue lights flashing and people screaming and shouting.”

So far there have been no arrests.

Superintendent Simon Crick, investigating, said: “This is a dreadfully sad loss of life and I understand how shocked the community will be.

“I want them to know that they can expect to see more officers in the area and to approach them if they want to discuss any concerns or share any information.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t ... _content=4

[Anthea]

Boy 16, stabbed on Christmas Eve

Detectives have released an image of a young man they would like to speak to after a teenage boy was stabbed and robbed in east London on Christmas Eve



The 16-year old victim was reportedly walking towards Forest Gate railway station, at around 6pm on December 24 last year, when he was approached by two males. One of the pair stole his phone before stabbing him in the arm, the Metropolitan Police said.

They then fled on an electric scooter towards Earlham Grove.

Police found the victim with stab wounds to his arm after they were called to the scene on nearby Woodgrange Road.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged, Scotland Yard said.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery on Christmas Day, the force added.

He was bailed to a date at the end of January.

Detective Constable Nikki Tanner, investigating, said: “I’m asking the public to take a good look at the male in this image and if they recognise him to get in touch with police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 5207/24Dec.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b ... 00402.html

[Anthea]

Boy 15 second teenager
murdered in London this year

The third teenager to be stabbed to death in the UK in the space of a week has been named as 15-year-old Romario Opia



Romario, known as Rom to his friends, was knifed in the chest as he walked to a chip shop after clashing with a youth following a long-running row, a family friend said yesterday.

The killer came out of a house, stabbed the ‘beautiful’ teenager then went back in, the friend claimed.

It came after Anas Mezenner, 17, died following a stabbing yards from his front door in Haringey, north London, on Tuesday of last week. Keon Lincoln, 15, was shot and stabbed to death by a gang in broad daylight outside his family home in Birmingham last Thursday.

Police were called to the latest attack in Islington, north London, at 5.30pm on Monday. An air ambulance crew tried to save Romario but he died at the scene. Forensics officers found a foot-long ‘zombie’ knife with a curved and serrated blade.

Romario Opia, known as Rom to his friends, was knifed in the chest as he walked to a chip shop in Archway, Islington, on Monday evening

Carly Forrest, a lifelong friend of Romario’s mother, said he had a brother and sister. She added: ‘He was beautiful, fun, loving. He was always on his bike. I just wish I could take the pain away from his mum.’

The 40-year-old said she had heard Romario was walking to a fish and chip shop. She added: ‘I feel sick to my stomach. Apparently there was an altercation and he got stabbed in his chest. Just like that.

‘I’m told the boy came out of his house and stabbed him and ran back in his house.’

She said Romario’s mother rushed to the scene, adding: ‘It was too late by the time she got there. Police wouldn’t allow her to go near his body.’

Miss Forrest said he had been rowing with a boy, saying: ‘I’ve been told there’d been long-running arguments.’

One person was arrested on suspicion of affray, but Miss Forrest said the suspect was Romario’s friend.

Police guarded off the scene of Romario Opia's murder in North London earlier today as a 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of affray was released with no further action taken

Romario, 15, is the second teenager to be killed on London's streets so far this year, following an unrelated fatal stabbing near Turnpike Lane station five days ago

Tributes have poured in for Romario, as one family friend said he was beautiful, fun and loving

Tributes were left on Facebook yesterday. Emmie Wheeler wrote: ‘Honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing. Rest in peace Romario. Forever 15.’

A dog walker, 50, who saw a forensics officer handling the zombie knife, said: ‘I’m shocked.’

Romario is understood to have been a pupil at Beacon High School in Holloway. Scotland Yard said police were called to a report of a stabbing and confirmed a teenage boy later died at the scene.

Zombie knives have been banned from being sold, imported or made in England and Wales since 2016 but can still be posted from eBay’s US site for around £30.

Police remained at the scene of Romario's murder today as they appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Ch Supt Raj Kohli, Commander of the Central North unit, said: 'A young person's life has been taken and our thoughts are with his family and friends who have lost someone very special to them.

'I know our community will be shocked and upset by this incident. Our officers share your sadness, and we have a team dedicated to tracking down those who committed this.

'Detectives from our specialist crime command will be making extensive enquiries and I would ask anyone who does know something to come forward and share that information.'

Police remained at the scene in Holland Walk, Archway, near Islington, earlier today as a murder investigation continued

Forensic officers arrived at the scene to investigate last night, following Romario's death at around 5.30pm on Monday

Det Ch Insp Neil John, who leads the investigation, said: 'My officers and I are committed to finding those responsible and bringing them to justice. There are people out there who know what happened last night, and I want them to come forward.

'In particular, I'd like anyone with mobile phone footage of the incident to share that with us. Please get in touch with us, or anonymously with Crimestoppers, and help us track down those who did this.'

Police patrols are being stepped up around Archway following the death of Romario Opia, who was known to his friends as Rom

A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of affray has been released with no further action.

Two boys, aged 16, have been charged with the murder of Anas Mezenner.

Five teenage boys have been arrested over the murder of Keon Lincoln in Birmingham.

A total of nine people have been murdered in London already this year, with two of the victims teenagers.

A total of 17 teenagers were murdered in the capital in 2020.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -year.html

[Anthea]

There are now so many fights / attacks within the black community of the UK, that most of them are never considered news worthy

Every day these, mostly BLACK youngsters are trying to kill other black youngsters, some only in their early teens and not much more than children.

For many years we have had white flight whereby white people move away from black neighbourhoods due to increasing violence, many older black people remain in these black war zones due to family connections

People, both black and white live in fear, fear of attacks, fear of break-ins

Black people also live in fear that one of their children will become victim to this violence

The UK has estates where not just white people fear to tread but postmen, delivery drivers and even emergency service such as Ambulances and Firefighters are actually under attack while saving lives.

Much or the violence appears to be hushed up and never reaches the media - I often wonder if this is some type of 'D' notice has been given to prevent a heightened sense of fear.

There are non-stop violent attacks by armed Somalian savages against white works on parts of the Olympic Village that is being rebuilt - everyday police are being called in to protect white workers and a couple of weeks ago the site had to be closed for a while due to those attacks

The above statement is in no way racist, it is factual - most other Africans (apart from ISIS supporters) are by far a much gentler people than Somalian - we like the gentle Ethiopians who gave the world coffee.

I wonder how many other such incidents are taking place against white people - black on white attacks would cause much more fear within the white community than blacks killing blacks does

The following article shows why people live in fear - remember these are daily occurrences in other areas as well in Croydon - my black friends in Croydon cannot understand why they never read about these attacks in the media

What follows is the reality and sheer horror of living in Britain

I was going to write inner city Britain but the leafy borough of Croydon is far from being inner city.

[Anthea]

Ten people stabbed leaving
one dead in Croydon bloodbath

A man was stabbed to death with two others fighting for life after ten separate stabbings in just over two hours in Croydon

Police said they had no information that the attacks were linked despite the attacks occuring just over a square mile of each other in South London.

Police were called to reports of two males with stab injuries at 8.08pm to Wisbeach Road, Croydon.

One male was taken to hospital before they arrived in a non-life threatening condition but another man was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Police didn't reveal an age for the victim but said his family were aware of his murder.

There has been no arrest.

Earlier police responded to a stabbing at Chapman Road, Croydon at 6.56pm. Police found a man, whose condition was assessed as not life-threatening later in hospital.

Minutes later police were called to a south London hospital at 7.15pm after four males, all aged in their 20s, came in suffering from various stab and slash injuries.

One of those men is at this time in a life-threatening condition.

Police were called back to a south London hospital after two more men self-presented with stab injuries at 8.51pm. One of the males condition deteriorated and is now fighting for life.

In the final attack of a bloody evening in Croydon a male was arrested on suspicion of GBH at 9.12pms in Dingwall Road.

The victim too has been arrested and his condition not thought to be life-threatening.

Detectives put in place a special stop and search order to prevent any further bloodshed on the streets of South London.

Det Supt Nicky Arrowsmith said: "Sadly, tonight we have seen a number of needless and completely abhorrent violent altercations, including one that has tragically resulted in a loss of life.

"Officers will be on patrol throughout the night across the South Area Command Unit, with additional resources from the Violent Crime Taskforce and Territorial Support Group deployed to deter and prevent any further violence.

"A Section 60 Order granting police additional stop and search powers is in place across Croydon, until 8am on Saturday, 6 February.

“I urge anyone who has information that could help police to assist us as we work to investigate these incidents to speak to us as soon as you can.

“Tackling violent crime in London remains the top priority for everyone in the Metropolitan Police Service. We have dedicated resources working to prevent, deter and tackle violence in all its forms, day and night and are utilising all available tactics and powers.

"Our officers continue to work around the clock to identify and pursue offenders, bring perpetrators to justice, support victims, take weapons off the street, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe in London.

"But we are not complacent and cannot do this alone. We work closely with our communities as they are key to understanding and knowing what is occurring locally. We need to hear from anyone who has information about crime, those who carry a weapon, or those who exploit others for gain or revenge, while putting young people’s lives at risk- we need this information to help keep London safe."

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/c ... 18833.html

You will note that no description of assailants is given - a sure sign they are black