Four men and one boy – including a London rioter – who were found guilty of murdering an innocent painter and decorator have been jailed for a total of 62 years.
Almost two years ago to the day Andrew Jaipaul, 21, met a “truly terrifying” death when he was stabbed 25 times with kitchen knives and broken glass by members of Archway’s Busy Block gang.
A 20 strong mob, armed wearing hoods and balaclavas, swarmed onto the Andover Estate, off Seven Sister’s Road, in Holloway, and attacked Mr Jaipaul, who was on his way home from work, in a “cowardly fashion”.
They ran away cheering and shouting “Busy Block” while Mr Jaipual, despite the efforts of neighbours, bled to death near a children’s play area.
The prosecution claim it was revenge attack by Busy Block on their rival ‘Wray Kray’ and ‘Crouch Hall’ gangs after one of their members was stabbed in the buttocks earlier the same day.
Thomas McInerney, 21, Jojo Mafwa, 19, Tirrell Ball-Thomas, 18, Wesley Brooks, 18, and a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons were all found guilty of murder, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.
Two months after the killing, Brooks joined rioters in an attack on a Tesco’s store for which he was later convicted of burglary and violent disorder.
The 15-year-old, who was 13 at the time of the murder, was convicted of robbery when he was just 12-years-old.
Passing sentence, Judge Gerald Gordon said: “Clearly that attack was motivation for a revenge attack involving serious violence.”
He added: “Andrew Jaipual was just 21 with no known connection to gangs and met a truly terrifying death, the thought of which will always haunt his family, as his mother has made clear.
“These sort of tit-for-tat attacks in escalating severity is far to common on the streets on London.”
In an impact statement to the court Mr Jaipaul’s mother Joanna said: “It’s very difficult to put into words the enormous loss and grief we feel but it’s totally overwhelming.
“It was sadly made worse by the fact that his father Goodwin did not live long enough to see court proceedings and died without knowing answers to questions about how his son died.
“Andrew had aspirations of becoming a fashion designer and was beginning his adult life with a positive frame of mind.
“He was a loving and loved son, brother and loyal friend to many. When his father became ill he took the time to care for him.
“As a family we know we have to move on with our lives but it will always be difficult when an important part is forever missing.”
There were ugly scenes outside the court when a group of youths, thought to be from the Andover Estate, confronted people from the public gallery.
The gallery itself was partially closed after the defendants had received abuse when the verdict was read out last week.
McInerney was given a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years, Brooks and Mafwa were detained at her majesty’s pleasure with a minimum of 12 years, Ball-Thomas was jailed with a minimum of 11 years and the 15-year-old boy was detained with a minimum of nine years.
Warren Brooks, 23, Wesley Brooks’ brother, of Ritchie Street, Islington, was cleared of murder but convicted of conspiring to inflict grievous bodily harm.
A seventh defendant, Allan Kalema, 19, of Cardinals Way, Archway, could face a retrial after jurors failed to reach verdicts against him on the same charges.
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