Four men sentenced following Met investigation into death of man in Croydon

Four men have been sentenced to a total of 67 years in prison following a Met Police investigation into the death of 22-year-old Lavaun Witter in Croydon.

On 5 February 2021, officers were called to Wisbeach Road at around 20:08hrs, after a member of the public found Lavaun collapsed and seriously injured.

He sadly died at the scene after sustaining a stab wound to the leg.

An investigation was launched by the Met’s Specialist Crime South Unit. Enquiries revealed that prior to his death, Lavaun’s flat had been broken into by four men. The men, who were armed with long knives and swords, demanded drugs and slashed through an internal door.

Lavaun and a 16-year-old boy were stabbed before running from the scene but Lavaun collapsed a short distance away.

CCTV enquiries quickly identified the suspects as Tyreece Riggon, Julian Russell, Tyreece Wolfries-Parkin and Alex Pasley.

On 18 February 2021, officers raided an address linked to Riggon and he and Russell were arrested. A subsequent search of an address linked to Russell recovered a Louis Vuitton bag belonging to Lavaun.

Wolfries-Parkin and Pasley were also arrested in the following weeks.

All were charged with Lavaun's murder as well as attempted murder and attempted grievous bodily harm of the 16-year-old.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan, Senior Investigating Officer in the case said:

“These men were prepared to use extreme levels of violence and take Lavaun’s life to gain possession of drugs they believed were inside the property.

“Lavaun was defenceless against the four men who were each armed with large knives, including a Samurai sword.

“Levaun’s death devastated his family and his community. I commend the bravery and strength they have shown throughout this lengthy investigation.”

A trial at the Old Bailey began on 17 July 2023 and Julian Russell (18.09.1998) of Sanfield Road, CR7 and Tyreece Wolfries- Parkins, (06.10.2002) were found guilty of murder. Alex Pasley (01.10.1995) of Paxton Grove, Coulsdon was found guilty of manslaughter.

A re-trial began on 4 November 2024 and on Thursday, 12 December, Tyreece Riggon, 24 (29.09.2000) of Armistice Gardens, SE25 was found guilty of attempted GBH. Pasley was also found guilty of attempted GBH in relation to the attack on the 16-year-old boy.

The group appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 19 February for sentencing.

Julian Russell was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 24 years in prison minus the four years spent on remand.

Tyreece Wolfries- Parkins was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum term of 20 years minus the time spent on remand.

Alex Pasley was sentenced to 17 years in prison and Tyreece Riggon was sentenced to six years, both minus four years spent on remand.