Two jailed for brutal Halloween murder in Croydon

Jack Harvey (right) and Jahliel Rose (left) Pic: Metropolitan Police

A teenage boy and a man have both been jailed for the murder of a 22-year-old student in Croydon on Halloween last year, during which his two friends were also seriously injured.

Scotty Kouebitra from Sutton, was attacked after being chased through a park in Selhurst by a group of up to eight men in the night, who were armed with knives, baseball bats and a screwdriver.

The victim was initially attacked close to King George’s Park and stabbed with a screwdriver, before the fatal stabbing then took place on Gloucester Road.

One of the attackers was heard to shout “Let’s shank (stab) him”, while Kouebitra had pleaded for someone to “call the Jakes (police)”.

The frenzied attack lasted no more than two minutes.

Kouebitra had previously been setting off fireworks with friends before the armed youths arrived in two separate cars.

Prior to their arrival, Jack Harvey, 17, had informed the driver of his car where to go and shown accomplices pictures on his phone to help identify their target.

Having been found guilty of murder and two counts of wounding with intent following a trial at the Old Bailey, Jahliel Rose, 21, and Harvey have since been handed extensive prison sentences.

Rose, of no fixed abode was given a minimum life sentence of 25 years in prison.

Harvey, of Holmwood Gardens, Wallington jailed for a minimum of 19 years. An additional two men were also involved in the case but were cleared of all counts.

Restrictions on the naming of Harvey were in place due to his age, but were lifted by Judge Sarah Munro on Wednesday.

She said: “We are behind the scenes here and elsewhere in the city working very hard to try to discourage young people from carrying knives but sadly they continue to do so and tragically in circumstances that leads to loss of life.”

Scott Kouebitra Pic: Metropolitan Police

There is still little clarity in regard to the attackers’ motive, although it has been suggested that the victims were in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.

Also involved in the premeditated attack were Kouebitra’s friends, Adil Jamal-Abdilahi and Keith Hawker, who were both stabbed by the armed gang.

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