Morning:
8°c
12-year-old boy who took part in gang killing of innocent student
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent21 Apr 2009
THREE members of a gang who hunted like a pack and killed a university student yards from his home were jailed for life at the Old Bailey today.
Six more gang members — including one who was 12 at the time of the attack — received major sentences after being convicted of taking part in the killing in Southall in September 2007.
A 30-strong gang in masks and hoods, and armed with baseball bats, broken bottles and knives, attacked Yasin Abdirahman, 22, a pharmacy student at London Metropolitan University.
Yasin was knifed in the head and chest, one blow piercing his skull and entering his brain, as two girls who he had been walking towards a bus stop looked on.
Despite his wounds he flagged down a passing motorist who took him to Ealing Hospital. He fell into a coma and died a week later.
Police believe he was targeted in the mistaken belief that he was a member of a rival gang, or picked as a victim of an initiation test. The three murderers, gang leader Sheldon Lewis, 19, Joshua Williams, 15, and Andre Mason, 16, all of Acton, were members of the west London gang MDP (Murder Dem Pussies, or Money Drugs Power) and FDA (F*** Da Authorities).
They were ordered to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure — the juvenile version of a life sentence — and must serve minimum terms of between 15 and 13 years. The judge said the evidence did not pinpoint who carried out the fatal stabbing. Carlos Cyrus, now 14, and 12 at the time of the attack, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to at least seven years in a total term of 11.
Six of the seven others who were convicted of violent disorder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm were sentenced to up to eight years. The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont QC, told them: “Yasin was hunted down, defenceless against the attack.”
The court heard that rivalry had built up between MDP and a Southall gang, Grit Set. MDP set out with Staffordshire terriers to the Windmill Park estate in Southall to attack Grit Set. Around the same time Yasin and his friend left the estate to walk two friends to a bus stop. Prosecutor Brendan Finucane QC said: “Within minutes, he was surrounded by armed young males. He was not the target of their endeavours.”
After the sentencing a group of MDP members gathered outside the Old Bailey with their hoods pulled up and swearing at those entering and leaving the building. The one defendant to walk free, a 15-year-old who cannot be named, shouted “MDP” as he was driven away.
Reader views (14)
wow, so much hatred in you lot. ok, i shouldnt act suprised, i use to also be like that. I learnt though, the truth, the situations faced by these people, i dont have the space on this post but please contact me rogue_player@hotmail.co.uk and i will enlighten you, having lived on both sides, from police cadet to crack dealer, now to moral guide, please, i would like to help! also, mothers worried for their boys drop me an email, much assistance to be had! peace
- Jonathan, Greenford, london, 13/07/2009 15:27
Report abuse
the papers do not tell the true version of what happened I dont think any one can judge unless they were sitting through the whole of the court case, 2 children were wrongly convivted.
- Katie, london, 07/07/2009 22:36
Report abuse
I Aint saying what they done woz right yeah.. but i know one of the boys mums.. and u have no right to say there mums & dads must be the same.. every1 aint the same unoe.. get a life
- West London, West London, 23/04/2009 22:09
Report abuse
Sad condolences to Yasins family, please remember though that some of these boys were children when they did this awful crime, yes the older ones need to take responsiblity, but 12, 13 14 what terrible lives they must have had, what has happened to them, in our society to turn them into killers. How the death of Baby p shock us all, but if he had survived, as many children who have suffered such awful abuse have, would he have turned into a killer? As many children who have been horrifically abused have. It's the adults in this world who fail the children and turn them into killers and its the adults in this world who can turn this world around and make it a better place.
- June, West London, 22/04/2009 23:26
Report abuse
who ever said the parents are no better just goes to show the pure ignorance of some people.
- Katie, london, 22/04/2009 21:50
Report abuse
The murdering IDIOTS that did this should have got life. I guarantee that their parents are no better!
- West London, West London, UK, 22/04/2009 17:14
Report abuse
When all these gang will be banned in London?? Please protect our innocent children who dont want in involve these inhuman activities. Life is unsafe in London. Gong of 30 strong peoples and 1 target.The 12 at the time of attack so where are the remaining 18, may be searching other target. Police cannot control all these gang before committing an other horrific crime or fatal stabbing
- M A Sular, London, 22/04/2009 09:28
Report abuse
Sadly, those jailed will be regarded as heroes and role models for the ones still in the gang. This is a deep-rooted cultural problem and jail sentences do not act as a deterrent. It is more complex than that.
- Jethro Penzance, Streatham Common, 22/04/2009 08:46
Report abuse
They live in a 1st world country and they could have applied themselves to something in life but instead they chose not to contribute to society and instead inflict terrible crimes on innocent people.
- Neil, London, 22/04/2009 08:46
Report abuse
Over the past 20 years we have allowed a sub-class to emerge that has no moral compass.
Killing someone, even a total stranger, is seen as no more serious or morally wrong as throwing away litter in the street.
It is clear that in many large cities there is one ethnic group who have a majority as both the perpetrators and victims. There's even a special Police group dedicated to investigating crimes within this community.
Much of the blame can be laid at the foot of poverty, no opportunities and the social experiment of the 1980s where 'experts' came up with the stupid idea that criticism of children or telling them no, was wrong. Now we have a generation fully clued up on their 'rights' but oblivious to their responsibilities.
Too often the courts give out lenient sentences which see the perpetrators failing to serve life and allowing them free to commit crimes again on release.
Either life must mean life - when you kill someone deliberately then that must be the tariff - or we need the reintroduction of the death penalty for crimes like this. The scum that committed these crimes are of no use to society. They gave up their right to life once they took the life of an innocent.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 22/04/2009 08:22
Report abuse
treat these gangs as a threat to the country.yes terrorists.bombers strike without warning as do these thugs.and why were they not arrested for public order offences?.one law for the thugs.one law for the protesters.
- Mikeee, peterborough uk, 22/04/2009 07:39
Report abuse
When it says the two girls "looked on" does that imply that they pretty much ignored it? Or does it mean that they sat and watched?
- Casey, Yoo Ess Aye!, 22/04/2009 06:02
Report abuse
Why 15 to 13 years why not 50 to 30 years ? Do these idiots masquerading as judges not get it, theyll be out in thier mid 20's wearing thier murder conviction and prison time as a badge of honour where they can get " nuff respect" .... give them 30 year minimums that will sort out the men from the boys .. you want to be a little scumbag street thief criminal, step up if you can do 30 years. Theyll all be crying for thier mummies before the trials are over.
- Scott, London, 22/04/2009 02:27
Report abuse
Life should mean these feral thugs die in prison. If not, the sentence is an insult to the victim. Who wants to see this scum back on the streets ?
- Victor, London, 21/04/2009 17:57
Report abuse
