Masked youngsters who killed rival gang member, 18, convicted of homicide

Two masked teenage killers who stabbed an 18-year-old rival gang member to loss of life in a horrific excessive road assault have at present been convicted of homicide. 

Alfie Hammett, 19, and Joshua Howell, 18, brutally killed Raymond James Quigley, often called James, in Ipswich, Suffolk, on January 17 final 12 months.

James of Wymondham, Norfolk, was set upon by the violent thugs at 3.35pm as he was strolling with two associates in Westgate Street.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how Hammett and Howell have been carrying face masks, had hoods up and have been armed with giant knives once they ambushed their sufferer.

Hammett ran instantly in the direction of James earlier than stabbing him 4 instances within the chest and stomach with two of the injuries proving deadly. James staggered right into a automotive store earlier than he collapsed and died.

Horrified passers-by together with prospects and employees from a close-by Starbucks tried to assist him earlier than police and paramedics arrived.

Howell, who was brandishing a machete, chased after one in all James’ associates, however they managed to flee to security in a close-by sportswear store.

The court docket heard how the pair had deliberate the assault and had met in Suffolk New College earlier than later focusing on James and his associates.

Prosecutors mentioned the motive was most definitely a ‘deep rooted gang rivalry’ between two teams from Norwich, Norfolk.

James had an affiliation with a gang referred to as ‘OTM’, which stands for ‘Only The Money’ whereas Hammett, who had beforehand lived in Norwich, was related to a rival gang within the metropolis referred to as ‘3rdside’.

Prosecutors mentioned Howell had hyperlinks to the Nacton gang in Ipswich, also called ‘IP3’, which had fashioned ‘a stage of cooperation’ with ‘3rdside’.

Hammett, of Larkhill Rise, Rushmere St Andrew, and Howell of Wellington Street, Ipswich, each denied homicide, however have been unanimously discovered responsible by a jury after a trial lasting greater than 5 weeks.

Hammett didn’t give proof, however his defence group denied that he was the person who attacked James, and was referred to throughout the trial as Male One.

Howell gave proof and denied being affiliated with IP3.

He insisted he had solely met ‘Male One’ for the primary time on the day of the killing when he had offered him hashish earlier within the day whereas carrying a machete for his personal safety.

Howell mentioned that after making the deal, he had walked by means of city with ‘Male One’ to point out him the way in which to the German Doner kebab store in Westgate Street.

Howell mentioned the assault had ‘occurred spontaneously’, with out his prior information.

His defence for drawing his machete was that he feared being attacked by the opposite group.

The jury rejected his claims and have been additionally happy that police proof proved that Hammett was certainly ‘Male One’.

Last month, Shaun Hammett advised a court docket how he suspected his son was concerned within the homicide after checking a tracker he secretly placed on his moped.

Shaun Hammett confronted his son when he discovered that James had been stabbed to loss of life in a busy city centre.

He raised the topic once more the next day once they have been in his automotive collectively and advised {the teenager} he knew the place he had parked his moped.

Hammett claimed he had gone to see a woman however ‘appeared a bit shocked’ when his father revealed he had positioned the tracker on the bike.

Police later recovered info from the covert gadget to point out the moped had been left at Bishops Hill, which allowed them to make use of CCTV to hint the route taken.

Describing the dialog, Mr Hammett mentioned he requested: ‘I hope you have not had nothing to do with what’s occurred on the town this afternoon.’

His son, who was sitting on his mattress taking part in on his pc, is alleged to have claimed he had gone into city to purchase boxing headgear – though Mr Hammett advised the court docket he noticed no gear.

The pair have been additionally each convicted of carrying an offensive weapon, and Howell was additional convicted of threatening one other particular person with a bladed article.

They have been remanded in custody earlier than sentencing on March 11 to permit stories to be drawn up on them

Judge Martyn Levett advised the pair: ‘The sentence I’ve to cross is obligatory detention for all times.’

The decide advised Hammett: ‘I’m a lot in the dead of night about your background and the results.’

Addressing Howell, he mentioned: ‘The jury have rejected your account. I additionally assume it is essential I study extra about you.’

The decide warned them in opposition to selecting to not return to court docket for the sentencing, which is not going to happen till March 11 whereas the court docket waits for repotrs.

The assault and the actions of the suspects earlier than and after the incident have been captured on CCTV.

Detectives have been mentioned to have labored tirelessly over 4 days to determine and find the Hammett and Howell earlier than arresting them on January 21. They have been charged with homicide two days later.

Lasharne Beaton gave proof on the court docket that she was with a buddy within the close by Starbucks when she rushed to assist after two folks ran previous.

Referring to James as having his prime ‘utterly saturated in blood’, she mentioned: ‘He went into the store as a result of he could not run any extra, earlier than bending over-the-counter and passing out backwards.’

‘He stopped respiratory and I attempted to discover a pulse. He was nonetheless. I began to panic and that is once I began to provide him CPR.’

Earlier within the trial, the court docket heard Howell had transferred £1,000 to an account and purchased a one-way aircraft ticket to Nairobi.

The prosecution mentioned he didn’t have a telephone when he was arrested, whereas Hammett had returned his to its manufacturing unit settings.