Solicitor Pritesh Naik who tried to persuade a teenager who was later murdered to take the blame for gun charges. Photo: Met Police
A solicitor was yesterday sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for trying to persuade Lewisham College student Samuel Ogunro, 17, to take the rap for a gun deal gone wrong. He was later found murdered.
The conviction of Pritesh Naik, 33, of Malden Road, New Malden, marks the end of the fourth trial arising out of the enquiry into Samuel Ogunro’s killing. He was shot in the head, and his body discovered in a burning car by fire fighters called to Jowlett Street, Peckham on June 1, 2010.
Naik had no involvement in or knowledge of the killing.
His crime related to events before the murder. The Old Bailey heard he tried to persuade Ogunro to take the sole blame for firearms charges so that another man, Ola Apena, would no longer be under suspicion.
When the solicitor’s part in the failed plot ended, Apena, 23, had Ogunro murdered. Apena was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey last year and jailed for 32 years.
Judge Richard Hawkins told Naik: “It was a serious conspiracy, hatched from prison, facilitated by the use of mobile phones, and for a solicitor to be involved in such a matter is clearly very serious.”
Naik is the ninth man to be convicted of charges arising out of the enquiry and his sentence brings the total years of imprisonment to 80 years.
Samuel Ogunro, 17, studying at Lewisham College. Photo: Met Police
Ogunro had no previous convictions and was studying towards a sports leadership qualification at Lewisham College.
Investigating officer Detective Superintendent Damian Allain, formally of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, now of the Trident Gang Command, said: “Samuel had a bright future ahead of him and had not been in trouble with the police before. He was led into a situation by older men which ultimately cost him his life. Samuel was executed in a cold blooded and truly evil act just so these men could escape justice. His family have had their lives ripped apart by his death.”
The officer hoped that the convictions secured as a result of the enquiry into the various crimes “help them come to terms with their loss.”
Convictions relating to the events before, during and after the murder of Samuel Ogunro
May 23, 2012 at the Old Bailey. Pritesh Naik- guilty of perverting the course of justice and sentenced to five years imprisonment.
January 10, 2012 at the Old Bailey. John Apena, 21, Llewellyn Street, SE16 was guilty of perverting the course of justice and sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment. Convicted of another offence and sentence to be served at the same time.
July 29, 2011 at the Old Bailey. Ola Apena, 23, guilty of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to 32 years imprisonment. Convicted of other offences and sentences to run concurrently.
Rocky Thompson, 26, guilty of supplying a firearm with intent to endanger life and sentenced to 10 years. Other offences and sentences to be served concurrently.
August 31, 2011 at the Old Bailey. Daniel Collins, 21, of Sedgmoor Place, SE5 pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life and sentenced to 10 years. Other offences and sentences to be served at the same time.
October 13, 2011 at the Old Bailey. Mohammed Waseem Azram, 25, of Buckingham Road, Aylesbury guilty of possession of a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life and sentenced to 10 years. Other offences and sentences to be served at the same time.
Amanullah Azram Amanuallah Azram, 30, of Bicester Road, Aylesbury guilty of possession of a prohibited weapon with intent to endanger life and sentenced to 10 years. Other offences and sentences to be served concurrently.
A 17-year-old boy from Peckham guilty of perverting the course of justice in relation to the burning of the vehicle Samuel’s body was found in and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
