'Pack of men' convicted for hacking to death gang rivals in cold blooded execution

 
Killers: Ring leader Devonte Campbell and Casey Jones
Paul Cheston6 March 2015
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Four gangsters face double life sentences after being convicted at the Old Bailey today for the cold blooded execution of two rival drug dealers on the streets of London.

The two victims were hacked to death by the “pack of men” who inflicted 24 knife wounds in less than a minute.

Their car was lured into an ambush and hemmed in by four other cars in a quiet residential street in Leytonstone in March last year.

Josiah Manful, 20, and Aaron Carriere, 21, then sat helpless in their car seats as the “swift, frenzied, utterly brutal attack” took place.

Mr Manful, who was stabbed 13 times, finally staggered out of the vehicle to call for help but collapsed on the bonnet of a parked car.

Mr Carriere never left the passenger seat as he was knifed 11 times and both men died at the scene.

Only one thing was stolen – Mr Carriere’s mobile phone containing his client list of drug customers.

Four men, led by gang leader Devonte Campbell, were convicted of double murder and will be sentenced later by Judge John Bevan.

Three others were cleared of murder and manslaughter.

Murdered: Aaron Carriere and Josiah Manful

But other suspects have jumped bail and two have fled the country to Yemen and Algeria, said prosecutor Lisa Wilding QC.

Campbell, who has 31 convictions, had been serving a suspended 16-week sentence for perverting the course of justice and dangerous driving when he hatched the murder plot.

During the trial the prosecutor told the court: “Each (of the killers) was fully informed and signed up (to the murder plan),” said the QC.

“The ferocity of the attack inflicted on men who were helpless and trapped in their car seats by a pack of men who surrounded the car, the use of at least two knives, the stab wounds to the neck and torso, were all intended to kill them.”

Ms Wilding went on: “Each of these men was there to play his part – some wielding the knives, others lent support by their physical, intimidating presence and others needed to drive to and from the scene. Once the purpose had been achieved they fled.

“They knew each other, they supported each other and they called upon each other to group together and further their murderous plan that night.”

Mr Carriere sold crack, heroin and cannabis in Leytonstone and was under investigation by undercover Met police officers.

When he died he had four packages of crack and eight of heroin hidden in his underwear and £700 cash in a man bag.

Mr Manful bought and sold second hand cars as well as dealing in drugs. When he died he had a lock knife hidden in his boxer shorts.

“The four men that have been found guilty worked as a team and lured Aaron and Josiah to their death. Helpless and trapped Aaron and Josiah did not stand a chance as their car was surrounded and a number of stab wounds were inflicted upon them.

"I hope that today's convictions bring some comfort to the families of Aaron and Josiah."

Campbell, 20 of Plaistow, Casey Jones, 19 of Walthamstow, Alex Bernard, 21 of Leyton, and Omar Hassan, 21 of Leytonstone, were all found guilty of two counts of murder.

Wail Alawi, 23, and Abraar Amin , 18, both of Walthamstow and a 17-year-old who cannot be named because of his young age, were cleared.

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