Category: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Teenagers jailed for manslaughter

Two teenagers who stabbed a man to death in an unprovoked attack have been jailed.

Felou Abadja, 19 (22.02.98), of Pinnell Road, SE9, and Dval Doh, 16 (18.08.01) of Floyd Road, SE7 were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday 2 February.

Abadja was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence of four years. Doh was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence of four years.

They were both found guilty of manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon at the Old Bailey on 21 December 2017 following a trial.

Abadja previously pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug (cocaine). Doh had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and possession of a Class A drug (heroin).

On 13 June 2017, police were called by the London Ambulance Service at about 17:45hrs to reports of a man stabbed behind Phipps House, off Woolwich Road, SE7.

Officers and London’s Air Ambulance attended and found 30-year-old Adam Chambers injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:27hrs.

A post-mortem examination held the following day gave cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.

The court heard that on the afternoon of 13 June, Abadja, Doh and a 15-year-old girl were at an address in Lee High Road, recording rap music.

At about 17:00hrs, Abadja called a taxi and asked to be taken to Troughton Road – which is very close to where Adam was fatally stabbed.

The three got in the taxi and they were driven to Troughton Road. Abadja and Doh got out of the taxi, and the driver and the girl waited. The two youths walked to nearby Phipps House and waited in the area next to Hartwell House.

At about 17:35hrs Adam left his home address on his moped and rode to the area of Phipps House, arriving at 17:42hrs when he met Abadja and Doh.

The court heard that Abadja had arranged to meet Adam through a third party to purchase drugs.

Just ten seconds later, the moped was seen to leave the area.

During those ten seconds, Adam was stabbed. He managed to drive a very short distance before collapsing. He was found by a passer-by who called the emergency services.

Abadja and Doh fled to the waiting taxi. The driver noted that they seemed in a hurry, saying ‘let’s go boss”. They also switched their destination to Blackwall Lane and they were dropped off by some flats.

Officers carried out enquiries and Abadja was identified as a suspect.

Abadja was located on 18 June 2017 at an address in Pinnell Road, SE9, after officers forced entry into the property – he was arrested and found to be in possession of a wrap of cocaine. Once at the police station, Abadja tested positive for the drug.

Abadja initially went no comment during interview, but later produced a prepared statement. He placed himself at the scene but said it was the male he was with, Doh, who became involved in a fight with Adam. Abadja told officers he was talking to his regular cannabis dealer when the stabbing took place, and he was some distance away. He said he saw Doh produce a knife and stab the victim. He also told officers he did not know this was going to happen.

However, Abadja was charged with murder and possession of a Class A drug (cocaine) in the early hours of 20 June 2017.

Doh, who was aged 15 at the time, was arrested on 21 June 2017. He was found to be in possession of a large knife and four wraps of heroin. He answered ‘no comment’ to all the questions put to him in interview.

The knife was analysed by an expert who concluded the knife found in Doh’s possession was the same one that fatally stabbed Adam. Traces of Adam’s blood were found inside the bag Doh was wearing upon his arrest.

He was charged on 22 June 2017 with murder, possession of a knife and possession of a Class A drug (heroin).

Detective Superintendent Lee Watling, who led the investigation, said: “This was a vicious unprovoked attack on the victim who was unable to defend himself.

“I hope today’s sentencing gives Adam’s family some measure of closure and comfort.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man who carried out terrorist attack in Finsbury Park jailed for life

The man who carried out an attack in Finsbury Park which killed one man and injured several others, has been sentenced to life imprisonment today – Friday, 2 February.

Darren Osborne, 48 (30.11.69) of Cardiff, was yesterday convicted of the murder of 51-year-old Makram Ali and the attempted murder of several others on 19 June, 2017, following a nine-day trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

The presiding judge told the court that Osborne’s actions were a terrorist act, as defined by section 30 of the Terrorism Act 2008. As such, Osborne was subject to a higher sentencing tariff and must serve a minimum or 43 years before being considered for parole.

The judge commended a detective sergeant on the investigation for his work and an imam, Mohammed Mahmoud, for his actions calming a crowd at the site of the incident following the attack.

Commander Dean Haydon, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “I welcome the judge’s decision to sentence Osborne under the Terrorism Act, which reflects the gravity of his actions.”

“Osborne’s evil and cowardly attack meant a family has tragically lost a husband, father and grandfather. There were also 12 others, who, having gone to Mr Ali’s aid, sustained various injuries from the collision. Some of those injured have still not fully recovered and could suffer from health issues for the rest of their lives.

“I would like to pay tribute to Mr Ali’s family and the local community in Finsbury Park, for their tremendous support and understanding with our investigation during what must have been an extremely difficult time for them.

“From the very outset, this investigation has had the full weight of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command behind it and I hope today’s outcome means those affected can start to think about putting this terrible ordeal behind them.”

At 00:16hrs on 19 June 2017, Osborne drove a hired Citroen Luton van into a group of people who were gathered on Seven Sisters Road near to the junction with Whadcoat Street. The group were attending Makram Ali, who, moments earlier, had collapsed on the ground, having just left a prayer meeting at the nearby Muslim Welfare House.

Osborne, heading northbound on Seven Sisters Road, swerved into the group hitting a number of people, including Mr Ali, who was still laying on the ground. Mr Ali sustained multiple injuries from the collision and died as result of these injuries. Twelve others were also injured in the attack, with several suffering serious fractures including leg, arm, skull and pelvic fractures.

Following the collision, Osborne crashed his vehicle into bollards in Whadcoat Street and he was detained by members of the public as he attempted to flee from the scene, before police arrived a short while later, and arrested him.

On his arrest, officers found various items in the van, including a hand-written note from Osborne containing a monologue of his extremist views.

An investigation was immediately launched by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and Osborne was charged four days later on 23, June 2017.

During the course of their investigation, officers found that Osborne hired the van from a vehicle hire company in Pontyclun, Wales on the morning of 17 June 2017. Later that day, he attended a pub in Cardiff, where he was seen on the CCTV footage writing the letter that was found in the van after the attack.

Through their enquiries officers believe that Osborne drove from Cardiff to London on 18 June 2017 with the intention of targeting the ‘Al Quds’ march, where he thought a large number of Muslim people would be present.

However, after arriving in London, Osborne was unable to access the march route with his vehicle. Officers managed to track down a taxi driver who confirmed that Osborne had asked him for directions to Grosvenor Square – the location of the end of the march – but that he’d told him it was closed off to traffic.

At this point, it is believed that Osborne decided to change his plans and after driving to south London, where he asked for directions to mosques, he eventually ended up in Finsbury Park. Just before midnight, Osborne is seen to arrive in Finsbury Park, where he initially parks up and then carries out what is effectively reconnaissance of the local area, before returning to his van. Approximately 20 minutes later, at 00:16hrs, he carried out the attack.

Commander Dean Haydon, said: “From our investigation, it was clear that Osborne had planned to come to London with the intention of carrying out an attack against the Muslim community.

“Only he will know, but if Osborne’s aim was to create divisions and hate between communities, then from what I have seen, he has failed in that respect. The way that the local community in Finsbury Park – of all faiths and backgrounds – came together was astounding and this reaction was the same across London and the UK.

“I must also praise those who initially detained Osborne immediately after the attack – in particular the local Imam, who ensured that Osborne didn’t come to any significant harm whilst waiting for officers to arrive at the scene. Again, this response and the overwhelmingly positive reaction my officers and teams have witnessed since, just further highlights how far from reality Osborne’s sick and twisted views really are.”

Family statement read out by Mr Ali’s eldest daughter Ruzina Akhtar outside Woolwich Crown Court on 2 February:

“The last few months have been very hard for our family as we have tried to adjust to life without our father. It was particularly hard for us to have to sit in court and listen to Darren Osborne deny he had done anything wrong. So we are very pleased with the guilty verdict.

“We’d first of all like to thank our barristers, the detectives and the police for all the work they have done to secure the verdict. We’d also like to thank our liaison officers who have been by our side throughout.

“Before our father left the house that night he had spent the evening with his family, it was here he felt most comfortable. He was such a peaceful and simple man, he had no bad thoughts for anyone.

“Our father, like the victims of most terrorism, was entirely innocent which makes his death in this violent way all the more hurtful and we cannot imagine the trauma he felt in the last few minutes.

“But we will choose to remember our father with happier thoughts. He will never be forgotten, he will always stay in our hearts, his laughter will echo the walls of our home, his smile will be reflected in our eyes, his memories will be alive in our conversations.

“We’d like to thank the witnesses who helped the case, family and friends who attended court and the community for the support we received.

“We’d also like to thank the press for respecting our privacy and would ask them to continue to do so, so we can try to move on with our lives as best we can. Thank you.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal for missing teenage girl

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal for witnesses to Haringey shooting

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed for drugs and firearms offences

A man has been jailed for drugs and firearms offences following an incident in Bromley.

Asher Mitchell-Butler, 20 (8.07.97) of Perystreete, Forest Hill was sentenced to a total of six years at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, 1 February.

Mitchell-Butler was found guilty on Friday, 5 January of possession of a firearm with the intent to cause fear of violence for which he was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin). He was sentenced to two years imprisonment for the ammunition offences – to run concurrently – and one-year imprisonment for the drugs offences, to be served consecutively.

At approximately 23:30hrs on 28 June 2017, plain clothes officers from Bromley Crime Squad were carrying out patrols in the Betts Park area, just off Anerley Road.

A moped, with a rider and a pillion passenger, stopped opposite them. Two men got off and approached the officers. The officers believed that the suspects were intent on robbing them, however, the pair seemed to realise who they were and made off.

A male detective constable pursued the first suspect on foot into Seymour Villas, SE20 and then into an alleyway. There, the suspect produced a sawn-off shotgun, pointed it at the officer and threatened to shoot him before running off. No shots were fired and the officer was not injured.

A male PC chased the second suspect – Mitchell-Butler – along Anerley Road where he got back on the moped and rode it directly at the officer. The officer struck out with his baton and the suspect fell from the moped. As he ran away in the direction of Elmers End, he threw his black crash helmet and a glove to the ground.

Officers conducted a search of the local area and discovered the discarded shotgun, which was found to be loaded, and a machete.

Detectives from the Trident and Area Crime Command launched an investigation.

Mitchell-Butler was quickly identified as a suspect and a warrant was obtained to search his home. During this search, officers found a cartridge identical to the one found in the shotgun.

He was arrested on 3 July 2017 and was charged later that day.

Detective Constable Andy Brackley, from Trident, said: “Although it was not Mitchell-Butler who threatened a police officer with a firearm that night, It was clear to the jury that Mitchell-Butler was in joint possession of this firearm along with an accomplice although his exact intention is unknown, It is fortunate that the officer was not injured; his bravery and that of his colleague cannot go without recognition.

“Mitchell-Butler is about to start a lengthy prison sentence which reflects the seriousness of his crimes.

“We remain committed to bringing the second suspect before the court and enquiries continue.”

Detective Superintendent Paul Warnett, from Bromley Borough, said: “This case once again highlights the dangers that police officers can face on a daily basis. These two officers were carrying out a routine crime prevention operation to address the concerns of local residents. However, it quickly escalated and an officer was faced with a shotgun pointed directly at him.

“By working alongside colleagues from Trident, a dangerous man is beginning a prison sentence and another firearm is off the streets.”

The case against a second suspect, Harry Moutouna from Lewisham, who had been charged with several offences, was dismissed.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal to find woman missing from Bermondsey

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed for causing death by dangerous driving following death of woman in Fulham

A man has been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision in Fulham in August, 2016.

Craig Kearney, 27 (4.10.90) of McNair Road, Southall was sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 1 February.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving on the same date having previously pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, 2 January.

The judge also imposed a 10-year driving ban and ordered Kearney to re-sit an extended driving test.

The court heard how on 9 August 2016 at approximately 03:05hrs, police were called to Groom Crescent near HMP Wandsworth following reports of a drone being flown near the prison grounds.

Officers arrived and a silver Peugeot was seen to leave the scene. Officers followed the vehicle and at 03:10hrs it was seen to have been involved in a collision with a lamp post on Wandsworth Bridge Road at the junction of Ashcombe Street.

The passenger, 25-year-old Acacia Smith, from Southall, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kearney, who was driving the car, was taken to a west London hospital in a serious condition.

He was discharged from hospital on 17 August 2016 and arrested by detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was charged on 2 November 2017.

Detective Constable Sejal Unadkat, who led the investigation, said: “This was a tragic death caused by an individual who was driving without any thought for the safety of himself or those around him.

“During the incident Kearney was found to have been driving at speeds between 87 and 91mph in a residential road which subsequently had the worst possible consequences.

“Nothing will bring Ms Smith back but I hope the sentence brings some measure of comfort to her family.”

The victim’s Grandfather, Lester Smith, said: “It took Craig a long time to admit to his guilt but finally he’s told the truth. Losing Acacia is something we will always have to live with and although it doesn’t bring her back, we have gained some kind of justice in today’s sentencing.

“Caysha had her whole life ahead of her, I watched her grown into the strong, amazing young lady that she became. She had dreams of getting her driving licence, running her own nursery business and going travelling.

“She showed so much love, lit up the room when she entered and you always knew Caysha was in the house. I miss her every day.

“Now my darling, my beautiful special granddaughter, you can rest in peace.

“I would like to pass on my thanks to the Judge, the CPS and the police for their thorough investigation as well as the witness services for their support at court today.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Officer charged with assault following off-duty incident

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man critical after being shot in the throat in Haringey

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Murder investigation launched after body of man found in Ilford