Two men guilty of murder of 21-year-old outside Wembley club

Givani Espuet died from a stab wound to the heart after the “senseless” attack outside the Aura Lounge nightclub in Harrow Road on October 30, 2022.

Police said that the 21-year-old was stabbed 11 times after two of his attackers produced knives.

The row between Givani, who was at the club with two friends, and the defendants broke out in the early hours of the morning, and quickly spilled out into the streets.

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An ambulance crew happened to be stuck in traffic nearby to where Givani was stabbed repeatedly, but could not save him.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, two men – Kadeem Hibbert, 30, and Sahid Kpaka, 29 – were found guilty of Givani’s murder yesterday (February 22).

Kadeem Hibbert (left) and Sahid Kpaka (right) have been found guilty of Givani’s murder yesterday (Image: Metropolitan Police)

The attack took place at a Halloween party, where Hibbert, of Gladstone Avenue in Wood Green, was also celebrating his birthday.

The 30-year-old was also found guilty of violent disorder, while Kpaka, also of Gladstone Avenue, pleaded guilty to this same charge.

Three other men were also convicted for their roles in Givani’s killing.

Courtney Forrester, 26, from Luton, was found guilty of manslaughter, and had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Two other men - Bruce Hutchinson, 30, and Andre Brown-Watson, 37 – were found guilty of violent disorder.

Three other men – Courtney Forrester (left), Andre Brown-Watson (middle) and Bruce Hutchinson (right) – were also convicted for their roles in Givani’s killing (Image: Metropolitan Police)

Both Hutchinson, of Marlborough Road in Wood Green, and Brown-Watson, of Park Grove in Bounds Green, were found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

All five will be sentenced at a later date not yet fixed. Another man was acquitted of all charges at the same trial.

Prosecutor Tony Badenoch KC told the Old Bailey that jurors that when the two groups went outside, “physical violence erupted … punches were thrown, and scuffles broke out”.

Hibbert punched Givani before lunging towards his chest with a knife, the court was told.

Jurors were told that the group chased the 21-year-old along Harrow Road, attacking him in full view of queuing traffic before “isolating” him between two parked cars.

Givani collapsed to the ground while the group repeatedly “kicked, punched and stabbed him”.

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Mr Badenoch added that “these defendants stabbed an unarmed man” before fleeing the scene by car and on foot.

Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Jim Barry said: “This was a senseless killing that has left a family, partner and community grieving.

“Givani was pursued for no reason and was repeatedly stabbed because the defendants didn’t want to lose face.”

Further charges of violent disorder have been brought against four other men, who will be tried at a later date.

Some reporting by PA.