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| Judge names five teenagers guilty of torturing and killing rival | Judge names five teenagers guilty of torturing and killing rival |
| (4 months later) | |
| Five 15-year-old boys who “tortured” a teenager to death in an alleyway behind his home in a gang murder can be named for the first time after they were handed life sentences. Kai Fisher-Dixon, Shuayb Mahomud, Tremayne Gray, Omarion Stephens and Abdulqaliq Mohamed stabbed Jacob Abraham, also 15, eight times in the legs and once in the arm. | Five 15-year-old boys who “tortured” a teenager to death in an alleyway behind his home in a gang murder can be named for the first time after they were handed life sentences. Kai Fisher-Dixon, Shuayb Mahomud, Tremayne Gray, Omarion Stephens and Abdulqaliq Mohamed stabbed Jacob Abraham, also 15, eight times in the legs and once in the arm. |
| Three of the teenagers had to change out of their school uniforms before carrying out the “punishment mission” on behalf of the Albany Park, or AP, gang to teach him a lesson because he was a rival to their “county lines” drug operation. He tried to run home, but could not make it because of his injuries and was found dying by his brother in the alleyway in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. | Three of the teenagers had to change out of their school uniforms before carrying out the “punishment mission” on behalf of the Albany Park, or AP, gang to teach him a lesson because he was a rival to their “county lines” drug operation. He tried to run home, but could not make it because of his injuries and was found dying by his brother in the alleyway in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. |
| Jacob died at around 10pm on 7 December 2017 of a wound to the right thigh that caused massive bleeding. His five attackers, three of whom were aged 14 at the time, were captured by CCTV cameras running away from the scene. | Jacob died at around 10pm on 7 December 2017 of a wound to the right thigh that caused massive bleeding. His five attackers, three of whom were aged 14 at the time, were captured by CCTV cameras running away from the scene. |
| The court heard that Stephens and Gray wielded the knives but prosecutors said all the boys were jointly responsible, having lured Jacob to the scene wanting him to suffer at least very serious harm. | The court heard that Stephens and Gray wielded the knives but prosecutors said all the boys were jointly responsible, having lured Jacob to the scene wanting him to suffer at least very serious harm. |
| The boys, all from Enfield in north London, all denied murder, but were found guilty by a jury on 25 June after a five-week trial at St Albans crown court. On Friday, they were handed life sentences by Mr Justice Edis. | The boys, all from Enfield in north London, all denied murder, but were found guilty by a jury on 25 June after a five-week trial at St Albans crown court. On Friday, they were handed life sentences by Mr Justice Edis. |
| Edis said Gray and Stephens must serve at least 14 years, Mohamed 13 years and Fisher-Dixon and Mahomud 12 years. They can be named for the first time after the judge lifted anonymity orders preventing the publication of their names. | Edis said Gray and Stephens must serve at least 14 years, Mohamed 13 years and Fisher-Dixon and Mahomud 12 years. They can be named for the first time after the judge lifted anonymity orders preventing the publication of their names. |
| The judge said: “In favour of lifting the order is the importance on the public being able to know what has happened in a case of murder and who is responsible for what. There is a deterrent element in these proceedings being fully publicised and published, which is in the important public interest. | The judge said: “In favour of lifting the order is the importance on the public being able to know what has happened in a case of murder and who is responsible for what. There is a deterrent element in these proceedings being fully publicised and published, which is in the important public interest. |
| “In my judgment, that is especially so in view of my findings about the context of the case, which are that this was a gang-related killing promoted by older and more sophisticated members of the gang who have not been brought to justice. | “In my judgment, that is especially so in view of my findings about the context of the case, which are that this was a gang-related killing promoted by older and more sophisticated members of the gang who have not been brought to justice. |
| “It is important all members of the community in which this occurred know that, and stop the other 14-year-old boys who have not yet committed an offence of murder or been convicted of it should know that there is a price to be paid for joining up in gangs” | “It is important all members of the community in which this occurred know that, and stop the other 14-year-old boys who have not yet committed an offence of murder or been convicted of it should know that there is a price to be paid for joining up in gangs” |
| Beyond the blade: marking the death of every child and teen by a knife in 2017 | |
| The court heard that Jacob, the son of an award-winning chef, was a devoted son and brother at home but was “no angel” and had dealt cannabis on a small scale. He was a member of the local church and, on the day of his death, had been handing out sandwiches to homeless people, his mother Sheba said. | The court heard that Jacob, the son of an award-winning chef, was a devoted son and brother at home but was “no angel” and had dealt cannabis on a small scale. He was a member of the local church and, on the day of his death, had been handing out sandwiches to homeless people, his mother Sheba said. |
| Prosecutors said he had been involved in fights and had an argument with members of the AP gang. Shortly before his murder, the court heard, he posted a message on his Snapchat account: “If you want to mess with me, come and mess with me around my yard.” | Prosecutors said he had been involved in fights and had an argument with members of the AP gang. Shortly before his murder, the court heard, he posted a message on his Snapchat account: “If you want to mess with me, come and mess with me around my yard.” |
| The judge said Fisher-Dixon, who lured Jacob with phone calls before orchestrating the others to get to the alley at the right time, had “delivered his friend into the hands of his enemies”. “I’m sure that there was no intention to kill Jacob Abraham. The purpose was to punish him by the deliberate infliction of serious pain and humiliation, but to leave him alive,” he said. “That was what I meant when I used the word torture in the course of the hearing, and I do not shrink from it.” | The judge said Fisher-Dixon, who lured Jacob with phone calls before orchestrating the others to get to the alley at the right time, had “delivered his friend into the hands of his enemies”. “I’m sure that there was no intention to kill Jacob Abraham. The purpose was to punish him by the deliberate infliction of serious pain and humiliation, but to leave him alive,” he said. “That was what I meant when I used the word torture in the course of the hearing, and I do not shrink from it.” |
| He said the purpose of the attack was for the gang to enforce its “reign of terror”, which enabled it to carry out its drug dealing operation. | He said the purpose of the attack was for the gang to enforce its “reign of terror”, which enabled it to carry out its drug dealing operation. |
| The victim’s mother described her son as a “normal and happy child” who enjoyed boxing and was studying horticulture with the hope of becoming a landscaper. “Jacob’s last act was to try to get home to his family, but he couldn’t get back because of his injuries. These people have ruined our lives,” she said. | The victim’s mother described her son as a “normal and happy child” who enjoyed boxing and was studying horticulture with the hope of becoming a landscaper. “Jacob’s last act was to try to get home to his family, but he couldn’t get back because of his injuries. These people have ruined our lives,” she said. |
| “I still struggle to believe what’s happened. Jacob was my whole world, and that was taken from me on that day. The people that have committed this murder will go to prison, but they will still get to see their family and will one day be released. We will never get to see Jacob again and I cannot describe how sad that makes me feel.” | “I still struggle to believe what’s happened. Jacob was my whole world, and that was taken from me on that day. The people that have committed this murder will go to prison, but they will still get to see their family and will one day be released. We will never get to see Jacob again and I cannot describe how sad that makes me feel.” |
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