Four jailed following vicious knife attack on teenager in Southwark

Four men have been jailed for a vicious knife attack in Southwark that left a man fighting for his life.

Due to the quick actions of officers who identified and stopped a car that was seen fleeing from the scene, three of the four suspects were arrested soon after the attack on New Year’s Day in 2023.

Police had been called to Seeley Drive, SE21 at around 23:40hrs on 1 January following reports that an 18-year-old man had been attacked.

Paramedics attended the scene and rushed the man to hospital; it was later found he had sustained over 60 stab wounds in the attack.

Witnesses reported seeing a car leave the scene. Its details were circulated and officer stopped the car in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. Three occupants, Tashan Bailey-Brown, Denzel Ealmeida and Darren Soyemi attempted to run from police but were detained and arrested.

Ealmeida was seen to throw a bag containing bloodied clothing as he attempted to flee from police. This was recovered and forensic testing confirmed the victim’s blood was on the items. A machete was also found in the bag, again with traces of the victim’s blood on it – Ealmeida’s DNA was also found on the sheath of this weapon.

A forensic sweep of the car also found the victim’s blood on the gearstick and dashboard, having been transferred there by the occupants.

All three were charged with attempted murder.

Another item recovered from the car led detectives to identify the fourth suspect – Kevaniel Perkins-Robinson. A lock knife was recovered from the centre console of the car containing a DNA match for Perkins-Robinson; the blade also had the victim’s blood on it. The forensic sweep of the car also found DNA from Perkins-Robinson on the steering wheel.

He was arrested in June 2023 and later charged with attempted murder.

On Monday, 5 February following the conclusion of a four-week trial at the Old Bailey all four were found guilty of attempted murder. They were remanded in custody and sentenced at the same court on Friday, 8 March to a total of more than 100 years imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Yikira Turner of the Central South Command Unit which covers Southwatk said: “This was a viscous, pre-planned attack which nearly resulted in the death of a young man.

“The verdict and sentencing is a reflection of the hard work put in by the investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service, but would not have been possible without assistance from brave individuals in the local community who came forward to support this investigation.

“Hopefully this result will enable the victim and his family to now focus on his recovery and give the community some comfort now that four dangerous individuals have been taken off the street.”

= Sentencing details:

Tashan Bailey-Brown – 23 (21.10.00) of Meadowview Road, SE6 was jailed for 24 years; he was also given a five-year extended licence of release.
Denzel Ealmeida – 22 (09.10.01) of Elam Close, SE5 was jailed for 31 years.
Darren Soyemi – 25 (26.04.98) of no fixed abode was jailed for 31 years.
Kevaniel Perkins-Robinson – 21 (13.05.02) of Cato Road, SW4 was jailed for 31 years.