[Victim: Khiry Ford]
Twin brothers found guilty of murder have been sentenced to life in prison.
Charles Tamale and Deo Tamale, both 19, (16.9.96) and of St Edmunds Road, N9 were found guilty on, Friday, 27 November, at the Old Bailey of murdering Khiry Ford as he intervened to stop a robbery. They were also convicted of conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Both were sentenced at the Old Bailey today, Thursday 3 December, to life imprisonment and each was ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years.
A third man, 18-year-old Ata Hansen (17.9.97) of Church Street, Enfield, who had been found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob was sentenced to eleven-and-a-half years for manslaughter. He was also sentenced to three years in prison, concurrently, for conspiracy to rob.
Khiry, 23, was from Tottenham and had a young son. He had been at a party to celebrate his female cousin’s eighteenth birthday. The party began on the evening of 29 November 2014 and continued into the early hours of the following morning.
At around 02:30hrs on 30 November, a group of around a dozen males – who had also been at the party – robbed four young men of their phones and wallets in Haselbury Road, N18. The victims of the robbery were not known to any of the defendants.
Khiry intervened to try to prevent the robbery, and during the ensuing fight he was stabbed in the chest by one of the robbery group.
Police and the London Ambulance Service were called to the scene and officers provided initial first aid until paramedics arrived. Khiry died in an ambulance on his way to hospital. A post-mortem examination at Haringey Mortuary gave cause of death as a single stab wound.
Khiry’s family, said: “Khiry was a quiet, humble young man who loved God, loved his life and loved his family. He had dreams and aspirations; he was in the second year of a business course and loved sport.
“We miss Khiry and still can’t accept he is dead. We hope people will not just see Khiry as another statistic of another senseless killing.
“Khiry’s death leaves a trail of broken hearts and lives that will never be the same again. He had a young son whom he loved dearly and will now have to grow up without him.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lawson, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said:
“This was an unprovoked attack on a young man who dared to stand up to the defendants who had just robbed four young men.
“The defendants have revelled in their gang status and whilst on remand and during this trial have been prepared to threaten numerous witnesses not to give evidence. Even now they have shown no remorse for what they have done and these verdicts send a message that violent gangs will not be tolerated on the streets of London.
“I would like to pay tribute to Khiry’s family who have been dignified throughout the trial. I can only hope today’s sentences go some way to helping them recover from what has been a very harrowing case.”