Boy convicted of murdering 15-year-old Deshaun James-Tuitt

A boy has been convicted of murdering 15-year-old Deshaun James-Tuitt.

Just before 21:00hrs on Thursday, 4 August 2022, officers encountered the victim in Highbury Fields, Islington. He ran towards them, saying: “Officer, I’ve been stabbed."

Despite the efforts of emergency services to save him, Deshaun died in hospital later that night.

On Wednesday, 5 February, 2025, a jury at the Old Bailey returned a guilty verdict against a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Six other youths who also stood trial were acquitted of murder.

The court heard how, on the night of the murder, the defendant - then aged 15 - travelled with a group of boys to Highbury Fields on public transport. He wore a face covering, and was armed with a knife. The journey was documented on CCTV footage obtained by investigators.

On the night he died, Deshaun had been at a birthday celebration at the park with a large group of friends.

Upon arrival, the defendant was seen robbing people in the park. This resulted in an argument between him and Deshaun, during which he was stabbed.

Immediately afterwards, the killer fled the scene.

A murder investigation was launched, led by Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. She said: “We conducted extensive CCTV enquiries in a bid to identify the youth who had travelled to Highbury Fields that night. Identifying him was a long and complex task."

The killer was arrested on Wednesday, 10 August, 2022. A mobile phone was forensically downloaded, and investigators recovered a chat from 8 August 2022, where he spoke of stabbing ‘Huntz’ - Deshaun's nickname.

DCI Yorke added: “The boy denied stabbing Deshaun, but it was clear that he had travelled to Highbury Fields that night, with a covered face, armed and looking for trouble. He knew that, should the need arise, his weapon would be used.

"This theory was supported by the fact that, just minutes after he arrived at the park, Deshaun had been fatally stabbed.

“There is no verdict that can give Deshaun back to his family. I sincerely hope that they find some comfort in today’s verdicts – my thoughts are with them.”

In a statement, Deshaun's family said: “He [the victim] was my firstborn, and he would have been 18 years old. All my friends that I went to school with have their firstborn children - except me. To the person involved in the stabbing and taking his life: he didn’t deserve to die like that. I had a mental breakdown, and I will never be able to get over this.

"I want you to know that Deshaun was a son, a brother, a grandson, a great grandson, a nephew and a cousin to so many on both sides of the family, so I want you to realise that he was a valuable member of our family. We won’t forgive or forget.

"Deshaun, you can now rest in peace. Hopefully, justice will be served. Not only is Deshaun’s life lost, they who have done the crime will serve the time.”

Additional members of Deshaun's family said: "The impact of Deshaun’s murder on his family and friends is something that we will never recover from and for all of us life will never be the same.

"Deshaun would have turned 18 on the 20 January and we will never get to know what he could have gone on to achieve in life. He was smart, funny and had a smile that could light up a room.

"There are so many young people making the decision to carry and use knives to hurt or even end someone’s life that it doesn’t just affect the families involved it affects the whole community and it’s time that we all come together and do what we can to stop any more young people losing their lives to knife crime and to stop any other families having to go through a lifetime of heartbreak.

"Deshaun’s family and friends wishes to thank the Metropolitan Police Force, the court service and anyone that helped in bringing his killer to justice.”

The killer has been remanded ahead of sentencing on Friday, 25 April, 2025.