A Streatham youth was the last person sentenced yesterday for his part in a fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy during rush hour at Victoria Station more than three years ago.
Junior Bayode, from Sherwood Avenue, was jailed for 11 years at the Old Bailey for manslaughter and seven years for conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Both sentences will run at the same time.
Fifteen youths and one female had already been convicted across four previous trials in what is believed to be the largest ever 'joint enterprise' murder case to be brought before a UK court.
Bayode, 19, was convicted at an earlier trial last year and is the final person to be sentenced for the stabbing, for which a 17-strong group of students were sentenced to a total of more than 140 years.
The attack on Sofyen Belamouadden, on March 25, 2013, was executed with such devastating speed that just two minutes elapsed between the youngster being chased, killed and his murderers fleeing the scene.
Nine stab wounds were inflicted.
Of the 16, three were convicted of murder and conspiracy to cause GBH; four for manslaughter and conspiracy to cause GBH; two for conspiracy to cause GBH and Violent Disorder and seven for Violent Disorder.
Three other youths were acquitted of all charges. Fourteen of the 16 were studying for A' levels at the same west London sixth form college and all were under 18 except for the only female in the group, Victoria Osoteku.
Sofyen Belamouadden was stabbed repeatedly after being chased into in the Underground ticket hall at Victoria station
The confrontation between the students, who attended St Charles College in west Kensington, and Sofyen and his associates was triggered the day before by a skirmish between the two groups on the main concourse at Victoria Station, during which one of the St Charles' boys was punched.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Though the fight was quickly broken up by British Transport Police, it sparked the simmering rivalry between the two sides which rapidly became a subject for agitated discussion on social media that evening among dozens of youths from different parts of the capital about the 'beef' or altercation anticipated to take place the next day.
"Those involved exchanged many comments on what weapons they wanted to acquire, and one of the St Charles group, Femi Oderinwale, who was subsequently convicted of manslaughter, inadvertently left an electronic trail of his intent thanks to a reference number he tapped into his computer which referred to a set of knives on the Argos website."
Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane, the senior investigating officer, said: "We are very pleased to have obtained 17 convictions in this case which we believe to be the largest joint enterprise investigation of its type ever undertaken.
"What began with a minor skirmish between two different groups of young people who both socialised at Victoria Station escalated dramatically over a 24-hour period into pre-planned violence stoked via social media use until both sides were inflamed to a point confrontation was inevitable.
"This group were intent on causing serious harm to Sofyen and his group, organised the purchasing and distributing between them of an arsenal of weapons ranging from a samurai sword to knife sharpeners and coshes and were utterly brazen in the blitz of violence they used in broad daylight at one of London's busiest central locations in front of large numbers of eye-witnesses.
"I have no doubt that if they had caught up with any other members of Sofyen's group he would not be the only victim.
"This case is an effective reminder that the law on joint enterprise is clear and unforgiving - you do not need to deliver the fatal blow or even be at the actual scene of the killing to be found guilty and sent to jail.
"One of those convicted of murder, who led the charge wielding the samurai sword, did not even enter the ticket hall but was outside the entire time.
"The real tragedy is that a young boy with a promising future has lost his life, but all those drawn into the 'madness' as they themselves called it, have also ruined their own prospects and devastated their families.
"I hope this case will act as a deterrent to others in the future to avoid getting themselves caught up in this type of situation - the only safe choice is not to get involved in the first place."
Under criminal law, joint enterprise refers to a situation where two or more people embark on a project with a common purpose where which results in the commission of a crime. It is often, though not exclusively, used in murder cases but can be applied to any type of offence.
Recap of previous convictions and sentences:
1) Samsun Odegbune, (DOB 22.04.1993 - 19ys) of Lockwood House, Kennington, SE11: life (with minimum of 18 ys) for murder, 8 years for conspiracy to cause GBH.
2) Obi Nwokeh, (DOB 08.09.1992 - 20ys) of Great Guildford Street, SE1: life (with minimum of 18 ys) for murder, 8 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH
3) Christopher Omoregie (DOB 23.06.1993 - 19ys) of Middle Road, SW16: life (with minimum of 18 ys) for murder, 8 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH
4) Femi Oderinwale (DOB 23.08.1993 - 19 ys) of Dalberg Road, SW2: 12 yrs for manslaughter, 8 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH
5) Samuel Junior Roberts (DOB 18.10.1992 - 19ys) of Southampton Way, SE5: 12 yrs for manslaughter, 7 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH
6) Adonis Junior Akra (DOB 19.04.1993 - 19 ys) of Fir Grove Road, SW9: 12 yrs for manslaughter, 7 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH
7) Victoria Osoteku (DOB 13.03.1992 - 20ys) of Mereton Mansions Brookmill Road, SE8 12 yrs for manslaughter, 7 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH
8) Enoch Charles Amoah (DOB 04.11.1992 - 19ys) of Blanchedowne SE5: 7 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH, 3 yrs for Violent Disorder
9) Tyrone Richards (DOB 05.12.1994 - 17ys) of Helston House, Kennings Way, SE11: 7 yrs for conspiracy to cause GBH, convicted of violent disorder but no separate penalty due to his age
10) Tayo Emmanuel Ajayi (DOB 11.10.1992 - 20ys) of Mayhew Court, Denmark Hill Estate: 2 yrs six months for Violent Disorder
11) Christopher Goncalves (DOB 28.09.1992 - 20ys) of Island Gardens, SE16
12) Amarl Wood (DOB 16.09.1994 - 18ys) of Evesham Walk, SW9: 2 yrs three months for Violent Disorder
13) Olawale Olaribigbe (DOB 01.07.1993 - 19ys) of Rundell Tower, Portland Grove, SW8: 2 yrs for Violent Disorder
14) Melvin Mensah (DOB 20.08.1993 - 19ys) of Malmsey House, Vauxhall Street, SE11: 2 yrs for Violent Disorder
15) Selassie Ahiaku (DOB 22.12.1992 - 19ys) of Marcella Road, SW9: 2 yrs for Violent Disorder
16) Lewis Ryan Sinclair (DOB 09.08.1993 - 19ys) of Claribel Road, SW9: 2 yrs for Violent Disorder note: All were students at St Charles except Tyrone Richards (nephew of Odegbune) and Amarl Wood (friend of Richards)
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