Josh Salisbury- The Standard reporter
Gang stabbed teenager with 17 inch sword on board train at Hither Green station in front of horrified commuters
Four men who stabbed a teenager with a 17-inch sword in a frenzied attack on board a Southeastern train which they filmed on their phones have been sentenced.
The victim, a 19-year-old man, was stabbed in the thigh and attacked as he lay bleeding on the floor in the November 21 attack in front of horrified commuters.
Rowan Jones, 21, of Lambeth, Kumarl Best, 19, of Croydon, Jahvarn Warren, 19, of Lewisham, and Rahim Al-Kamara, 21, of Lewisham were sentenced on Monday at Inner London Crown Court for their parts in the knife ambush.
The court heard how the four boarded a train at Grove Park towards St John’s at 7.30pm before confronting the victim who boarded at the next stop, Hither Green.
Warren and Jones grabbed the victim’s coat and slapped him in the face while Best produced a large knife and stabbed him multiple times.
As the victim lay on the floor, they kicked and punched him while Jones filmed the assault.
When they went back to their seats, the victim managed to escape into the next carriage where he collapsed into a seat holding his bleeding leg.
The gang ran off while shocked members of the public helped the victim limp off the train and called paramedics.
He was treated for a large stab wound to his thigh, a smaller wound to his thigh and several defensive wounds to his hands.
Detectives said he was “fortunate not to sustain further injuries” in the “brutal and senseless” attack.
Police identified the gang members from CCTV and carried out a raid on their home addresses, finding the sword at Best’s home still covered in the victim’s blood.
Al-Kamara was arrested separately at home two days later.
Detective Constable Danny Nelson, of the British Transport Police, said: “While none of the four revealed the reason for their actions, the frenzied nature of their onslaught leaves no doubt that their intention was to cause serious injury.
“There is absolutely no reason to carry a deadly weapon like this in public, unless they mean to endanger life.”
All four were sentenced to more than seven years in total to be served at Young Offenders Institutes.
Jones admitted causing grievous bodily harm, affray and possession of a weapon in private and received a 21-month sentence.
Best pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon and was sentenced to 31 months.
Warren admitted causing grievous bodily harm and affray and received an 18 month sentence.
Meanwhile, Al-Kamara pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 17 months.
SOURCE: The Standard
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