A man from Harlesden has been found guilty of murdering a teenage boy who was stabbed to death in a random attack in Hackney.
Rickell Rogers, 22, of Brownlow Road, was one of four men who chased and stabbed 17-year-old Marcel Addai on the St John’s Estate.
The Old Bailey heard Rogers, Sodiq Adebayo, 23, from Ilford, Momar Faye, 19, from Hackney, and 23-year-old Sheku Jalloh, from Shoreditch, travelled to the estate, where their victim lived, to attack anyone who they came across.
Marcel was with his friends and had tried to run away but he fell and was kicked, punched and stabbed by all four.
Detectives investigating the murder traced them through compelling CCTV footage that had captured their cars on the estate.
When they were arrested and interviewed all four gave ‘no comment’ interviews.
Today at the Old Bailey all four were found guilty of murder and will be sentenced on April 17.
Marcel’s grandfather, Matthew, said: “We are happy that justice has been served, but for us, it is part of the process of trying to move our youth away from crime. That, if you choose to commit a crime, there are consequences.
“Our heart goes out to the families of the offenders. We pray that they will come out of prison reformed characters.
“We miss Marcel very much.
“He was not an angel but there was hope whilst he was alive. The love and the efforts of the family would have seen him through the dark patch he was going through.”
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge, from the Met’s homicide and major crime command, added: “This was a targeted attack that required a level of planning.
“I want to praise those witnesses who had the courage to stand up and come forward with information in this case, it demonstrates that communities will not accept these violent attacks taking place.
“This senseless violence has taken another young life and left a family devastated. Those convicted are now facing many years in prison.”
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