A teenager who was jailed for life for his part in a brutal murder in Kilburn has had his minimum jail term slashed on appeal.
Lij McSween, 19, from Kentish Town, was one of four young men who were jailed over the killing of 22-year-old Milad Golmakani.
The victim, from Swiss Cottage, was chased and knifed as he played football on the Abbey Estate in April 2011.
No motive was ever given for the attack during the trial but it is thought to be related to a long-running feud between members of the Queen’s Crescent gang, to which the attackers belonged, and their rivals Sin City, from Swiss Cottage.
Convicted of Mr Golmakani’s murder and the attempted murder of Zain Salah Uddin, McSween was sentenced to at least 19 years behind bars at the Old Bailey in April 2012.
But his minimum term has now been cut to 17 years to reflect the fact that he was the youngest of the four who were jailed for the attacks.
Lord Justice Pitchford said: “McSween was 18 months to two years younger than his co-accused at the time of the offences.
“A difference of this magnitude in the case of teenagers is, in our view, significant.”
His accomplices, Sean Ferdinand, 21, Mohammed Hashi, 21, and Sean Hutton, 22, had each received minimum terms of 22 years for the same offences.
All four also challenged their convictions, but had their cases thrown out by the judge, who heard the appeals with Mrs Justice Nicola Davies and Judge Eleri Rees.
Lord Justice Pitchford said: “The verdicts of the jury were safe and the appeals against conviction are dismissed.”
Related link: Four teenagers locked up for life for murdering Swiss Cottage man in Kilburn.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here