Tag: london stabbing

DIASPORA NEWS, FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST April 5, 2018April 5, 2018

Latest London Stabbing Victim Is 18 Year Old Son Of A Celestial Church Pastor (updated)

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following two murders in Hackney.

Shortly before 20:00hrs on Wednesday, 4 April, officers on patrol in Morning Lane E9 were flagged down by the driver of an oncoming car who indicated there had been an altercation close by.

Officers arrived in Link Street, junction with Morning Lane, and found a man suffering stab wounds. They assisted an off-duty paramedic in providing emergency first aid until the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended.

Isreal Ogunshola, aged 18, was pronounced dead at the scene at 20:24hrs. His next of kin has been informed and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Source close to the incident have identified the victim as the 18 year old second son of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) pastor Dele Ogunsola.

The Hackney teen was friends with the 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne who was gunned down in Tottenham on Monday.

This blogger has earlier today came into possession of a video clip claiming to show the victim being shielded by Tanesha from an attack by a number of youths (allegedly members of the NPK or Northumberland Park gang) – shortly before she was fatally shot the same evening.

Israel died in the street 25 minutes after cops were flagged down to find the stabbed 18-year-old.

Two arrests were made late last night – [A] aged 17 and [B] also aged 17. They were both arrested on suspicion of murder.

The incident has been passed to homicide detectives.

Enquiries on ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and the possible motive.

Ch Supt Sue Williams, leading Hackney borough, said: “Sadly yesterday saw two people lose their lives in Hackney, a man aged 53 in Upper Clapton Road and an 18-year-old man in Link Street. Our thoughts are with the friends and families of both men at this awful time.

“My officers were flagged down to the Link Street incident and did all they could to try to save the life of the teenager, rendering emergency first aid and chest compressions with the help of an off-duty paramedic until the ambulance service and London’s Air Ambulance arrived. They are devastated they were unable to prevent yet another tragic death in the capital.

“I completely understand how alarmed and worried the local community will be at hearing the news this morning and we are working closely with the Homicide and Major Crime Command to solve these murders – two arrests have already been made in the Link Street incident.

“In Hackney we are working hard to prevent further violence and keep people safe – we have extra officers on the streets, both highly visible and in plain clothes carrying out a range of intelligence-led operations and patrols.

“We need to work together as a community to tackle violent crime – if you see or hear anything suspicious or have any information do not hesitate to call police on 101, via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or in an emergency by calling 999.”

FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST April 3, 2018April 4, 2018

Police Release Identity Of Plumstead Fatal Stabbing Victim

Detectives investigating a fatal stabbing in Greenwich have named the victim as 23-year-old Reece Tshoma.

Officers were called at 20:37hrs on Thursday, 29 March to a south-east London hospital after a male attended suffering from a stab wound to his neck. He had been driven to the hospital in a car by a friend.

Despite the extensive efforts of medical staff the man died later that evening.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as a stab wound and internal haemorrhage.

On Tuesday, 3 April, he was formally identified as Reece Tshoma, from the Barking area of east London.

Detectives believe that Reece was attacked near Nathan Way, Thamesmead.

There have been no arrests at this stage.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: “This investigation is ongoing and we are still piecing together exactly where and how the victim was attacked.

“Were you in the Plumstead area on the evening of 29 March? Did you witness a commotion or altercation, or see anything that seemed unusual, like a person or group of people running in the area? Any piece of information is useful to our investigation and I would urge you to call police immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact 020 8721 4805, or call police on 101 quoting ref 7434/29 March.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.

FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST April 2, 2018April 3, 2018

23 Year old Dies In Plumstead After Being Stabbed In The Neck

A man has died shortly after being stabbed in Plumstead on Saturday night.

Police were called just after 8.30pm to a south-east London hospital after the victim was driven there by a friend.

The victim was suffering a stab wound to the neck and despite the efforts of medical staff the 23-year-old man died from his injuries later that evening.

Police believe the victim was attacked in the Plumstead area, possibly near the railway station and was able to call a friend who was able to then drive him to hospital.

He was able to call the friend who collected him in his car and took him to hospital.

The victim’s next of kin has been informed.

A post-mortem has not yet taken place.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, who is leading the murder investigation said: “This investigation is in its very early stages and we are still piecing together exactly where and how the victim was attacked.

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“Were you in the Plumstead area last night? Did you witness a commotion or altercation, or see anything that seemed unusual, like a person or group of people running in the area? Any fragment of information is useful to our investigation and I would urge you to call police immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0208 721 4805, or call police on 101 quoting ref 7434/29 March.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.

There have been no arrests.

FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST March 29, 2018April 3, 2018

20 Year Old Nigerian Brit, 1 Other Bag 13 Years Each for Serious Knife Attacks In London

Two men have been jailed at the Old Bailey following two serious knife attacks that were committed within the space of an hour

Collins Adesoji, 20, (26.01.98) of Listowel Close, SW9 was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment on Tuesday, 27 March having been convicted of conspiracy to commit assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Bujwawne Brooks, 19 (08.04.98) of Lakeview Road, SE27 was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment at the same hearing having been convicted of the same offences.

They had previously been found guilty on 8 December 2017.

The two incidents happened on the afternoon of 27 December 2016.

In the first attack, a boy – aged 16 at the time – was stabbed near to Oval Underground Station at around 17:00hrs. He was taken to hospital for treatment to his injury.

It has never been established who inflicted the stab injury or the exact location of the incident. However, a police investigation found that both Adesoji and Brooks had been among a group of males who had been involved in an altercation with the victim and three of his associates during which the teenager was stabbed.

It is believed that this attack was associated with the defendants’ gang activities.

Adesoji drove away from the scene in a Ford Focus, which also contained Brooks and at least one other passenger.

Around 45 minutes later, Adesoji and Brooks were in the same Ford Focus on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton when they confronted two boys who had been with the victim of the earlier stabbing.

They followed the boys in the Ford Focus to Windrush Square, where a funfair, busy with families and children, was operating.

The Ford Focus mounted the pavement and collided with an 18-year-old man sitting on his bicycle who had not been involved in the earlier incidents.

The man was knocked off his bicycle before being attacked by one of the occupants of the Ford Focus, who stabbed him in the thigh whilst he was on the ground trying to fend off the blows. The identity of the man who carried out the stabbing has not been established; however the court heard that Adesoji and Brooks were two of the three occupants of the car.

They attempted to make off in the vehicle by reversing down Rushcroft Road, but due to the damage sustained in the collision, they abandoned it and made off on foot.

The victim’s femoral artery was severed – an injury which is often fatal – but a doctor passing by the scene administered life-saving first aid by using her scarf as a tourniquet to stem the flow of blood. She was also helped by members of the public until police and an ambulance arrived at the scene.

The Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command launched an investigation, and linked the two incidents.

The abandoned vehicle was linked to Adesoji, and forensic evidence from the car and phone evidence linked Brooks to the offences.

Adesoji was arrested on 30 December 2016. Brooks was arrested on 6 June 2017.

These men went out that day intent on committing serious violence on, possibly rival gang members, the reasons for which are still unclear.

Detective Constable Patrick White who led the investigation said: “The actions of Adesoji and Brooks resulted in a young teenager being stabbed in Kennington and a violent attack on a young man in Brixton at a funfair.

“They used an extreme level of violence and showed a total disregard for families and children who were at the funfair.

“We will not allow these kind of community events to be used by gangs for criminal purposes.

“This type of violence will not be tolerated on the streets of London, and we have worked tirelessly to bring these types of violent offenders to justice.

“Anyone with information about those involved in gang activity and violence can call police via 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their website.”

https://baroness-j.com/vid-20180315-wa00022-mp4/

FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST March 29, 2018March 29, 2018

Teenager Faces Life In Jail For Stabbing His “Friend” In The Heart And Leaving Him In Permanent Vegetative State

A teenager has been convicted at the Old Bailey of a vicious stabbing in south London that left his 17-year-old victim in a minimally conscious state following a catastrophic brain injury.

Tyrese Osei-Kofi, 18 (18.06.99), of Lordship Lane, SE22, was found guilty on Tuesday, 27 March of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on Jamel Boyce in Clapham Common on 14 October 2016.

Osei-Kofi was found not guilty of attempted murder.

An investigation was launched after police were called by the London Ambulance Service just after 19:00hrs that evening to reports that a young man had been stabbed in Triangle Place, SW4, near the entrance to a supermarket car park.

Officers and the LAS attended and found Jamel with stab wounds to the chest and leg. While the latter wound was superficial, the other had penetrated his heart and punctured his lung, which caused Jamel to collapse and go into cardiac arrest.

Paramedics and a trauma team who treated him at the scene performed surgery on the roadside and managed to restart Jamel’s heart before he was rushed to hospital. However, he had been deprived of oxygen for a critical 14 minutes, which was found to have caused around a 75 to 80 per cent loss of brain function.

Doctors concluded that Jamel, a business student at St Francis Xavier College in Clapham, had been left in a ‘vegetative state’ by the brain injury and was extremely unlikely to ever make any significant recovery. He was subsequently transferred to a specialist long-term care facility where he remains today.

The jury at the Old Bailey was shown CCTV footage of Jamel in McDonalds earlier that afternoon with a group of friends including Osei-Kofi. Around four hours later, shoppers observed a scuffle going on outside the car park of a local supermarket and described seeing Jamel pinned up against a wall by Osei-Kofi, while other youths watched ‘like a pack of animals surrounding a buffalo’, in the words of one witness.

Osei-Kofi was heard shouting for a ‘chiv’ (knife) whilst holding his right arm against Jamel’s neck to trap the teenager against some railings before inflicting the stab wounds and leaving the scene

Osei-Kofi was first interviewed after handing himself into police on 20 October 2016 following media appeals in which his father recognised him. He was subsequently re-arrested on 22 December 2016, and charged on 13 April 2017.

*Tyrese Osei-Kofi (r) stabbed his friend Jamal Boyce through the chest and leg

Following the verdict Detective Constable Sarah Mustoe, who led the investigation, said: “On 14 October 2016, Jamel’s future was cruelly torn from him. Following what appears to have been a minor disagreement, he received what clearly would have been a fatal stab wound to the chest had it not been for the skill of the trauma team who attended the scene. Sadly, as a result of this injury, Jamel was left fighting for his life and suffered a severe and permanent brain injury.

“Jamel maintains an extremely low level of consciousness; he has been left paralysed, blind, unable to communicate, and in need of 24-hour care. His life was changed dramatically following those few seconds and his family’s grief at losing the boy they cherished is immeasurable.

“I hope some closure can be gained from the perpetrator having been brought to account for his terrible crime. I would like to pay tribute to Jamel’s parents, who have maintained dignity and composure throughout this last 17 months, and to thank the witnesses who did come forward to help Jamel that night and at court.

“This case shows the stark reality of carrying a knife and the consequences of using one. Jamel was a business studies student, with no links to gangs, who had never come to the attention of police. Everyone we spoke to described him as a shy, polite, conscientious young man who hid his shyness behind a big smile. Osei-Kofi has yet to reveal his motive for the stabbing and his parents are left without answers as to how this could have happened to their son.”

Osei-Kofi will be sentenced on Friday, 4 May.

Speaking after the trial, Jamel’s mother Pansy Boyce thanked the London Air Ambulance Service, Kings College Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital for going to extreme measures to save Jamel’s life, first at the scene and then in the days and weeks following the incident.

She said: “The care that Jamel received from the medical team was second to none. He fought for his life in those first few weeks and they were there every step of the way to help him. I also want to extend my deepest thanks to the two officers who gave first aid to Jamel, and to Dr Konig and his team for saving my son. Without their courage, determination and brilliance, my son would not be alive today.
“Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to my Family Liaison Officer and the investigation team who have been a constant source of support through the darkest days.”

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FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST March 27, 2018

Home Office Launches Anti Knife Crime Campaign

The Home Office has today launched a new advertising campaign to reduce knife crime among young people.

By using real-life stories of young people who made the decision not to carry knives, the #knifefree campaign aims to highlight the consequences of carrying a knife and to inspire young people to pursue positive alternatives.

Serious Violence Strategy

The campaign forms part of the government’s forthcoming Serious Violence Strategy, which will set out action to tackle serious violence by placing new emphasis on steering young people away from crime while continuing to promote the strongest possible law enforcement approach.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

The emotional stories at the heart of the new Knife Free campaign bring home in powerful fashion just what a far-reaching impact it can have on a young person’s life if they make the misguided decision to carry a knife.

I hope any young person who is seriously thinking about carrying a knife listens to what the implications can be and realises what options are available if they choose to live knife free.

Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability Victoria Atkins said:

This powerful new campaign will highlight the tragic consequences of carrying a knife and challenge the idea that young people are safer if they carry one.

The £1.35 million campaign will use advertising on social media (Snapchat, Twitter) and digital channels (TV on demand, Spotify) to target 10 to 21 year olds who use these platforms. A poster campaign will also be displayed in English cities where knife crime is more prevalent.

Real-life stories

The adverts feature real-life case studies who have turned their lives around after deciding to go knife free. They are based on new research commissioned for the campaign which found that showing real-life stories of young people talking about their experiences with knives resonated with the target audience.

The adverts point young people to a dedicated #knifefree website which provides advice, signposts support services and highlights activities to empower young people to change their behaviour.

Backing

When developing the campaign, the Home Office worked closely with a range of charities and knife crime victims’ families to ensure their insights and expertise were reflected.

John Poyton, chief executive of Redthread, said:

It’s incredibly important to make sure young people understand that violence and knife crime should not be normal.

I’m really pleased that the new campaign puts young people and their stories at the forefront of its message, and highlights the positive choices they can make to live knife free.

We know that policing is only one part of the solution and tackling this issue requires a public health approach and everyone in our communities working together.

Patrick Green, chief executive of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said:

It is vitally important that we help young people understand the dangers associated with carrying a knife. A knife won’t protect you, it doesn’t give you status; harming or stabbing someone isn’t a trivial act.

We need to do more to help young people understand that carrying a knife doesn’t solve anything, in fact all it does is increase the likelihood that you will be imprisoned, seriously injured or murdered.

Introducing young people to the life stories of others who have faced the same challenges but have chosen to live knife free is a powerful way to help them make more positive choices. That is why the Ben Kinsella Trust fully supports the live knife free campaign.

Evan Jones, Head of Community Services at St Giles Trust, said:

St Giles Trust wholeheartedly backs this campaign. Our staff see the effects of knife crime every day – from convictions for carrying a knife that can blight a career all the way through to meeting a young person who has suffered life-changing injuries as a result of an assault by a rival gang.

Our staff work tirelessly to persuade young people there are safe alternatives to carrying a knife and that there are positive alternatives to gangs and criminality. They work on the streets, in gangs units, in schools, in regional towns and in hospitals, using their life experience to engage and support young people to make the changes that will keep them safe.

The knife crime media campaign forms part of a wide range of measures underway to tackle knife crime. In February the Home Office announced a new round of the knife crime community fund and increased the money available to charities to £1million.

The government has also consulted on new laws on offensive and dangerous weapons, including banning online stores from delivering knives to residential addresses and making it an offence to possess certain weapons in private.

The advertising campaign is planned to run for 6 weeks.

FEATURES, LONDON DIGEST March 22, 2018

Violent Crime In London Now At Crisis Point – Charity Chiefs Warn

Charity campaigners have warned London has reached a “crisis point” in violent crime, after eight people were killed in seven days in the capital.

Each of the eight victims recorded in London between March 14 and March 20 were either shot or stabbed to death, the Metropolitan Police said.

Of those currently identified, Lyndon Davis, 18, is the youngest to have been named, after he was found suffering from a single stab wound on Nash Road, Chadwell Heath on March 14.

Joseph Williams-Torres, 20, was killed the same evening as he sat in a stationary car in Essex Close, Walthamstow.

Three days later, on March 17, Russell Jordan Jones, 23, was found with stab and gunshot wounds in South Street, Enfield.

Five other victims have yet to be formally identified following separate incidents between March 18 and March 20, including a young man believed to be in his early 20s who was stabbed in the Stratford Centre shopping complex on Tuesday March 20.

Patrick Green, chief executive of knife-crime awareness charity the Ben Kinsella Trust, said authorities had not done enough to educate young people on the dangers of carrying knives, despite a “steady increase” in violent attacks.

He said: “We are at crisis point.

“We are seeing a steady increase in violent crime, and I think things may well get worse before they get better.

“I think what we are seeing now is that we haven’t done enough to help educate young people not to carry knives in the first place, or to turn away from violence and I think until we do we are not really going to solve this problem.”

Mr Green added that long-term solutions to the crisis would take time before they became effective, and said it would not be possible to “arrest our way out” of the problem.

He added: “It’s not like flicking a switch. We can’t just turn this around really quickly.

“We have an over-stretched police force doing the best that it can in terms of enforcement, but we haven’t invested enough in helping young people understand carrying a knife won’t protect them, it won’t solve conflicts, and we need to do far more around that approach to tackle this issue.”

Mr Green said solving the wave of violent attacks would now require a raft of measures around education, mental health support and social service efforts to curb “the underlying issues that drive young people to violence and to carry knives.”

SADE: Mothers Against Gangs And Knife Crime