The grandfather of murdered Hoxton teen Marcel Addai said his “heart goes out to the families of the offenders” after four gang members were convicted of the “ferocious” knife attack that claimed the boy’s life.
Rikell Rogers, 22, of Goldney Road, Maida Vale; Sodiq Adebayo, 23, of De Vere Gardens, Ilford and Sheku Jalloh, 23, of Crondall Court, St John’s Estate were found guilty by a jury’s majority verdict of 11-1 at the Old Bailey.
Momar Faye, 18, of no fixed address, was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10-2.
Mr Addai, 17, was chased and stabbed 12 times in St John’s Estate, Pitfield Street, Hoxton, on September 4 last year.
The attack took place just yards from his home in of Wenlock House, Evelyn Walk.
Marcel’s grandfather Matthew read out a statement on behalf of the family outside the Central Criminal Court following the verdict.
He 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.”
He continued: “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.”
Mr Addai also expressed thanks to the police officers who “put in so much effort to bring the killers to justice”.
“One thing that struck me in court was the evidence given by the first officer on the scene that fateful day,” continued Mr Addai.
“He said the crowd who surrounded Marcel whilst he was on the floor dying were anti-police and he had to force his way through them to try and help Marcel.
“We all know how in situations like this every second counts. We all need to help the police to try and make our communities safe for us.”
The defendants blamed each other for the murder throughout the nine-week trial, during which they were separated by security guards.
Akeem Gbadamosi, 22, of Detmold Road, Clapton; David Oladimeji, 21, of Axon Place, Ilford and Eugene Ocran, 19, of Fermain Court West, De Beauvoir Road were found not guilty.
The gang of seven had travelled to the estate in three cars from Oladimeji’s Ilford home before attacking Mr Addai and his friends, who had thrown a bottle in their direction.
Mr Addai was a member of the Hoxton Boys gang, who were embroiled in a fierce rivalry with the Fellows Court gang, of which six of the defendants were members.
Mr Addai tried to run away but was seen by a number of witnesses to fall to the ground before being kicked, punched and stabbed.
Det Ch Insp Andy Partridge, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This was a targeted attack that required a level of planning.
“The death of Marcel was a senseless killing. There was no reason for it – there was nothing Marcel had done himself.
“Those convicted are now facing many years in prison.”
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