Two People Given Life Sentences following the murder of Scotty Kouebitra in Croydon
Two people have been jailed following the murder of Scotty Kouebitra in Croydon. Scotty, 22, was chased and fatally stabbed after he and his friends were attacked in Gloucester Road just after 8pms on 31 October 2016. Jahliel Rose, 21 of Bensham Grove, Thornton Heath was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 15 November to 25 years imprisonment for murder. He was also sentenced to nine years for one count of s18 wounding with intent; and 12 years for a second count of s17 wounding with intent to run concurrently. Jack Harvey, 17 of Holmwood Gardens, Wallington was also sentenced at the Old Bailey to 19 years imprisonment for murder. He was also sentenced to six years for one count of s18 wounding with intent; and nine years for a second count of s17 wounding with intent to run concurrently. HHJ Munro lifted reporting restrictions in relation to Harvey. The pair were both found guilty on Thursday, 9 November after a trial that lasted nearly four weeks. On 31 October 2016, Scotty had been in a park with friends who were celebrating Halloween and setting off fireworks. A witness saw Scotty being attacked by at least two males, and could see that the attackers were armed with baseball bats and a pole. Witnesses described how some of the attackers were wearing Halloween masks. Two of Scotty’s friends went to try and help him but they were confronted by several of the armed group and injured. As they made their way from the park they were joined by Scotty, but he suddenly fell to the ground and started to have a seizure. Police and London’s Air Ambulance attended but despite efforts to revive him, Scotty was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination carried out on 2 November 2016 revealed that Scotty had several defensive wound to his arms, probably caused as he tried to fend off his attackers. However the fatal wound was to Scotty’s chest, which had been inflicted with considerable force and pierced the aorta. An investigation was led by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC). It is believed that the target for the attack had been a group who had previously been in the park but had left a short while earlier. CCTV evidence showed the assailants in two cars carrying out a reconnaissance of the park while the group they had intended to attack were inside. The two cars then left and other CCTV captured them preparing for their deadly assault. Harvey was arrested on 8 November 2016 at his home address. Whilst in custody his home was searched and a camouflaged snood was found in his bedroom. On examination, staining could be seen on the snood which tested positive for the presence of blood. It was found that the blood matched that of the victim. Rose was arrested on 16 November 2016 and was linked to the crime by CCTV and phone enquiries. They were both subsequently charged with murder. + Two other men who went on trial for the same offences – Marcus Osazai Asemota, 22, of Turpington Close, Bromley and Aaron Jackson, 26, of Harrington Road, South Norwood – were found not guilty of all counts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLUTOMJV4F0
