Three young men have been found guilty of the "random" murder of a shop assistant who was targeted in a postcode gang "ride out" into enemy territory.
Anthony Adekola, 22, nicknamed Lizzy, was repeatedly stabbed as he walked home from the Marks & Spencer store he worked at in Colindale on the evening of September 5 last year.
Following an Old Bailey trial lasting eight weeks, Ta-jaun Subaran, 19, of New Brent Street, Hendon, and two 17-year-olds, who cannot be identified, from Hendon, were found guilty of murder.
Jurors were told that Mr Adekola was in the "wrong place at the wrong time" as he chanced upon a group of young men who had travelled into the rival NW9 postcode area.
Mr Adekola was near his home on the Grahame Park Estate when two taxis pulled up and eight young men got out.
CCTV footage showed the victim being stopped by the group in Booth Road and after a brief exchange, he turned and ran.
He collided with a stone bollard and fell to the ground in Martlesham Walk as the chasing pack closed in.
The group then subjected Mr Adekola to a brutal attack, stabbing him at least nine times in the face, head, neck, back, chest, arms and leg.
The fatal stab wound to his neck severed the carotid artery and jugular vein.
The attackers then returned to the waiting taxis and made off.
Mr Adekola was found badly injured and bleeding by his brother and concerned friends who retraced his route.
Police arrived at 11.15pm and found him surrounded by people applying pressure to the neck wound.
Medics carried out emergency surgery at the scene but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 11.45pm.
Bill Emlyn Jones QC, prosecuting, told jurors there was no evidence of a personal connection between the victim and his attackers.
He said: "We are left with the awful prospect that he was selected and killed at random."
The attackers had come from and returned to Hendon – in the NW4 postcode – while the victim was in the NW9 area.
Mr Emlyn Jones continued: "It is the prosecution case that the defendants were on a raid into enemy territory, something known as a "ride out".
"When they got to NW9, it didn’t matter to them who they stabbed – it was enough to show their NW9 rivals that they could turn up on enemy territory and attack who they liked."
Following the defendants’ arrests their electronic devices were examined, the court heard.
A Snapchat message four days after the murder was recovered from the iPad of one of the youths.
Headed "This is for your own safety", it stated: "Grahame Park and Hendon are having a war because of the stabbing that happened (RIP Lizzy) so when you finished skl no more concourse it’s straight home cause if Hendon man catch you it’s peak cause they don’t care."
Detectives used forensic evidence to tie the suspects to the scene. There was a fingerprint found inside the taxi - using specialist techniques, officers got a hit on a match to one of the now convicted 17-year-olds.
That defendant was also linked to a facemask that was found inside the police cordon. DNA was found inside the mask which matched that of the suspect and placed him at the scene.
Further evidence acquired showed Subaran and the other 17-year-old all either called taxi companies or tried to do so and these calls were shortly before the group left in the taxis to travel to the murder location.
Suburban and the two 17-year-olds were al found guilty of murder and they are scheduled to appear for sentencing on November 5.
Detective Chief Superintendent Neil John said: "Attacks like this are senseless and horrifying and there is no doubt in my mind that the streets are a safer place now these three have been convicted.
"Anthony was an innocent male, who was targeted in an extremely violent and horrific manner.
"My deepest sympathies and thoughts remain with his family - I can't imagine the sadness and grief that has been caused. I can only hope that the result begins to bring some closure and justice, so that you can start to look forwards, cherishing the memory of Anthony."
In a statement Anthony's mother, on behalf of his family, said: "It has been almost 12 agonising months since the senseless and unprovoked killing of my son Anthony Adekola. I am relieved that justice has finally been served and some of the culprits have now been found guilty of his heinous murder.
"Waking up and coming into court day after day, listening to extremely unpleasant information has really pushed me to my breaking point and has taken a toll on my mental health. Anthony’s murder has left a gaping hole in our family that can, and will never be filled.
"I hope that one day, these people will take accountability for their actions and realise the damage they have caused in our lives.
"I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police for all their hard work and support through this whole process. I would also like to thank my family, friends and work colleagues who have supported me through this difficult time."
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