Top row, left to right: Simba Chiuture, Alex Ojerinola, Younatan Frezgi. Bottom row, left to right: Trevon Bert, Neil Williamson
A GANG of six thugs, including a 17-year old Zimbabwean, Simba Chiuture laughed at a judge as they were locked up for a total of 46 years after a vicious knife attack in south-east London, United Kingdom.
Ringleader Abdul Yassin-Noor, 20, stabbed brave Faheem Javaid in the back four times when he dared to stand up to them.
Mr Javaid, 20, was left for dead after being punched, kicked, beaten with a brick and pounded with a motorbike helmet by the notorious Ferrier Boyz gang – named after the estate where they lived.
The frenzied attack in Kidbrooke, south-east London was sparked when he challenged Yassin-Noor and his accomplices for robbing his younger brother of change so they could get a McDonald’s meal.
But the gang showed no remorse and giggled yesterday as Judge Giles Forrester imprisoned them.
He said their long sentences should be a wake-up call to knife thugs across Britain.
Yassin-Noor was caged for 15 years at the Old Bailey for attempted murder.
Alex Ojerinola, Simba Chiuture and Neil Williamson, all 17, plus 15-year-olds Younatan Frezgi and Trevon Bert, were locked up for between five and eight years.
They were convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and robbery.
The 15-year-olds can be named for the first time after the judge allowed them to be identified.
Several of the youths could be heard whispering and sniggering in the dock as their behaviour was condemned.
Judge Forrester said: “I hope young persons who may be tempted to take up knives get to hear about this case.”
The gang had targeted Mr Javaid’s 14-year-old brother after spotting him on a bus home from school last year.
They robbed him of his pocket money to visit McDonald’s in nearby Eltham where Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death in 1993.
The schoolboy sent a text to older brother Faheem who tracked down the robbers. He spotted two of them at a bus stop and punched Frezgi in the face.
But the student was soon “hopelessly outnumbered” when they called for reinforcements.
Giving evidence Mr Javaid said: “The next thing I saw was about seven to 10 boys come running towards me from McDonald’s and they were all shouting as they came towards me.
“They all circled me. I felt kicks to my head and my body, everywhere really. Then somebody turned my face away so I couldn’t see their faces.
“The Somalian boy with the knife, I have seen a few times before. I got up to get away and then I felt something in my back. It was so painful.”
The court has heard how Mr Javaid suffered a 10cm deep wound to his back as well as slashes to his face. He only survived thanks to surgery.
The attack was only stopped when members of the public stepped in.
During the trial Yassin-Noor and the rest claimed they were acting in self-defence.
Sentencing judge Forrester said: “I have no doubt the reason you combined together in the way you did was because each of you was either a member of a street gang, the Ferrier Boyz, or closely linked to it.
“The authority of the gang had been called in to question and so as a group you executed revenge.
“This was needless and extremely serious violence.”
Daily Star/Zim Guardian
ARTICLE ATTACHMENTS
READER OPINIONS
Ghifari Al Mukhtar Trinidad & Tobago • ghifarix@gmail.com Subject: Lets return to Africa and build not destroy at the behest of the neo-colonizers. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:37:17 • I thought the streets of England were paved of gold-Africa's gold. If Britain was so kind and humanist, why such a long time for such a young boy behind bars? When African countries enforced their laws these buggers dare sully our nation and its leader. One should take note of the avenues and choices left for the Black man in the WHITEMAN'S land. Check the ratio also the opportunities yet while they rape and plundered African for centuries they blame its leaders for failure given the 20-30 years of marginal independence and economic enslavement.
Paula Zvimhanza • paulazvimhanza@yahoo.com Subject: Simba boy Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:49:16 • This should be a lesson, not only to this zimbabwean boy, but to the parents as well. I know this boy, he used to live with an aunt in Wembley before moving to Stevenage to stay with an uncle and aunt. His mom stayed in London. He then moved to stay in London. He was such a good boy, very polite and kind, but his relatives seemed to care less for him from what I have heard. He might have thought the streets work well for him. This should be a wake up call for the parents that you need to LOOK AFTER your children. Garai ne vana venyu muchivabata zvakanaka, muchigarawo pasi nawo. musamanikidze hama kuchengeta vana venyu imi muchidya nyika rutivi. Now look what has become of this zimbabwean boy. The judge did the right thing. When he comes out, he will look carefully at his life and so will his parents and those related to him.
Tendai Marowa • n/a Subject: Home is best Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:51:42 • I have worked in this country for 10 years. I left my children back home under the care of my mother. I made sure I send them to the best schools. They have both done very well and are now in university.I am very proud to say that they have grown up to be very balanced young men who understand the sacrifices I had to make for them to have a better life.
The social system in this country does not favour black children. This is a fact of life in the UK and I feel sorry for those parents who find themselves let by the system they had so much faith in.
kudakwashe chimbudzi • n/a Subject: don't neglect our children Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:53:14 • many of us who come abroad in search of greener pastures are doing so at the expense of our children.to be able to sustain,we are having to do double shifts or work long hours living our kids vulnerable to the system.people dont bow down for money,for the sake of your children please repatriation is a must,we cant linger around these ends.africa awaitsfor its creator,lets make money AND LEAVE
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