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Klevi Shekaj and Leo Reid: Mothers' pain over their murders 'Smirking' men jailed for life over double murder at music video shoot
(about 8 hours later)
Klevi Shekaj (left) died on arrival at hospital while Leonardo Reid died at the scene in IslingtonKlevi Shekaj (left) died on arrival at hospital while Leonardo Reid died at the scene in Islington
"I sat there as a grieving mother praying for some sign of humility from them, praying for some sign of humanity from them, but instead they deepened our suffering." "Smirking" killers who ran amok at a music video shoot, fatally stabbing two young people and severely injuring a third, have been handed life sentences.
Valbona Shekaj's son Klevi Shekaj, 23, was murdered along with 15-year-old Leo Reid while they were at a music video shoot in Archway, north London, in 2023. Leonardo Reid, 15, and Klevi Shekaj, 23, were killed and 28-year-old Abdullah Abdullahi was badly hurt when a group of men armed with machetes ambushed the event in Archway, north London, on the night of 29 June 2023.
On Friday, Lorik Lupqi, 22; Jason Furtado, 28; Abel Chunda, 29; Xavier Poponne, 22; and Eden Clark, 31, will be sentenced at the Old Bailey having been found guilty of double murder and attempted murder following a long-running trial. Lorik Lupqi, 22, and Jason Furtado, 28, had planned the attack and enlisted Abel Chunda, 29, Xavier Poponne, 22, and Eden Clark, 31, to help carry it out.
During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Leo's mother, Valentina Locci, said no sentence would be enough for the "callous, vicious, cold-blooded" killing of her "beautiful, charming intelligent" son. On Friday, they were handed two life sentences for the murders and 25 years in jail for attempted murder, having been found guilty after a long-running trial.
Facing her son's killers in court, Ms Locci said: "Just for the fact that another human being can treat another human so poorly, careless, without any regard, only means that you must not be bothered by your conscience. At the Old Bailey, Judge Anjua Dhir KC told Lupqi he would spend at least 39 years in prison for the "planned, brutal, murderous group attack".
"My past, present and future has been crashed and taken, not only from me but my family, his siblings and all of our loved ones and friends, and for what? Furtado and Poponne received minimum terms of 37 years and Chunda and and Clark were given minimum terms of 38 years.
"An adrenaline rush, an ego boost, a full sense of worth, a selfish gratification with no rewards, at cost to others. What I lost, what we have lost, cannot be found nor replaced." Lupqi, the instigator of the violence, lashed out in the dock and was verbally abusive towards Judge Dhir.
She added: "I and all who loved Leo will live knowing of the brutality he suffered to his last breath." Judge Dhir told the defendants: "With the exception of Xavier Poponne, your behaviour during this trial has been appalling with constant outbursts in court, fights in the dock, disruptive behaviour in the cells in this building and difficult behaviour coming to and leaving this court."
She said Lupqi had been "by far the worst", adding that the defendants had shown "a complete lack of respect for the court process and the families of your victims".
Lorik Lupqi (left) and Jason Furtado were wearing electronic ankle tags when they carried out the murders
"However, I am sentencing you for offences and not for your conduct in court," the judge said.
As Lupqi was being sent down in handcuffs, he swore and told Judge Dhir: "When I come out I'm going to kill you."
All but Poponne had previous convictions, with a combined total of 201 offences, including for drugs and possession of weapons. Chunda alone had 97 convictions.
Earlier, the murder victims' mothers had criticised the defendants for their lack of remorse, "smirking" during their trial and treating it like a "game".
'Played with our pain''Played with our pain'
Ms Shekaj said in her statement that her son was "extraordinary" - a "kind, bright soul full of possibilities". Leonardo's mother, Valentina Locci, said: "My past, present and future has been crushed and taken, not only from me but my family, his siblings and all of our loved ones and friends, and for what?
In a statement read on her behalf by prosecutor Ben Lloyd, Ms Shekaj said she had felt "broken" by the defendants' behaviour during the trial. "An adrenalin rush, an ego boost, a full sense of worth, a selfish gratification with no rewards, at cost to others. What I lost, what we have lost, cannot be found nor replaced."
"Instead of showing remorse or asking for forgiveness, they smirked at us from the defendant's box. Mr Shekaj's mother, Valbona Shekaj, said in her statement: "Instead of showing remorse or asking for forgiveness, they smirked at us from the defendant's box.
"I kept looking at them, hoping to see something, regret, sorrow, anything that showed they understood what they did. "They played with our pain, and treated this entire trial as a game, as if the life they took and the devastation they caused meant nothing."
"Instead, they smirked, they argued with their lawyers, complained about proceedings, acted like this was all some inconvenience for them. Xavier Poponne (left) boasted about the murders in song lyrics. Also pictured are Abel Chunda (centre) and Eden Clark
"They played with our pain, and treated this entire trial as a game, as if the life they took and the devastation they caused meant nothing. The trial had heard how violence erupted after a large group gathered on the Elthorne Estate to record a music video for an artist called Tight Road Baby.
"I sat there as a grieving mother praying for some sign of humility from them, praying for some sign of humanity from them, but instead they deepened our suffering." Lupqi had heard that members of a rival gang might be there and called for the attack with the help of Furtado who enlisted Chunda, Clark and Poponne.
The court heard that aspiring cryptocurrency businessman Mr Shekaj's final words to his mother were a promise to be home in five minutes after going out to meet friends. Lupqi booked a taxi to pick up the three men from near where Furtado lived in Canonbury, north London.
Instead, at 02:00, she answered the door to police officers with news that "no mother should ever have to hear", she said. They wore masks and were armed with machetes as they travelled to the Elthorne Estate where they met Lupqi.
"As a single mother, Klevi was not just my son, he was my companion, my confidante and unwavering support," she said. Leonardo and his brother had been watching the music video being filmed with friends.
"He was thoughtful beyond his years, kind in ways both small and significant. He looked after me as much as I looked after him. They scattered after one of their number spotted a black-clad figure wearing a balaclava crouching down and moving towards them with a large knife.
"The promise of who he was becoming, all his potential, was snuffed out in an act of senseless violence." Leonardo's brother looped back later and saw someone lying motionless on the ground. It was only then he realised it was his brother.
Lorik Lupqi (left) and Jason Furtado were both wearing electronic ankle tags when they killed Leonardo Reid and Klevi Shekaj Leonardo had been stabbed in the chest, the wound cutting through his left lung and one of the major blood vessels in his body, causing fatal blood loss.
The men, who were described in court as "smirking" killers, ran amok at the music video shoot and fatally stabbed Klevi and Leo and severely injured Abdullah Abdullahi, 28, for an "adrenaline rush". Mr Shekaj was stabbed in the back, with the wound cutting through his left lung and deep into his body. He died on arrival at hospital.
Lupqi and Furtado had planned the attack and enlisted the others to help, jurors were told. 'Got me a trio'
On Thursday, Lupqi was double handcuffed in the dock over concerns of a violent outburst after he attacked Chunda, his co-accused, during the trial. Mr Abdullahi was chased and struck with a machete twice to the right side of his body, to the head and right knee.
Xavier Poponne (left) boasted about the murders in song lyrics, with Abel Chunda (centre) and Eden Clark Judge Dhir said he was "terrified" when he came to court to give evidence in the trial.
After hearing the victim impact statements, Lupqi was asked if he would like to say anything in mitigation for his crimes. After the attack, the taxi took Chunda, Poponne, Clark and Lupqi away from the scene to Chunda's home in Highgate Hill.
In response, the defendant, who was unrepresented by a lawyer, told Judge Anuja Dhir KC: "Suck your mother." Jurors were told of lyrics recovered from Islington resident Poppone's phones in which he glorified the killings and bragged he "got me a trio".
The judge warned Lupqi he would be sent out of court if there was a repeat of his bad behaviour. Furtado and Lupqi were wearing electronic tags at the time of the attack.
Chunda's barrister Bernard Richmond KC acknowledged the defendants' behaviour in court had been "reprehensible" but argued it should have no impact on the sentences they receive. Lupqi, from Archway, cut off his tag and fled to Kosovo, but was extradited back to the UK.
However, Judge Dhir observed the defendants faced life sentences and that she could take account of any remorse - or lack of it - when deciding how long they should serve in prison before being eligible for parole. On Friday, Poponne was handed additional concurrent sentences for dealing in class A drugs and carrying knives, offences he admitted.
She adjourned the hearing until 10:00 BST on Friday.
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