Four ruthless thugs who left a victim dying from a stab wound to the heart following a violent late-night home invasion have been caged – one for murder – after a racially-charged trial.
Ian Jones, 41, (pic. l) was killed at his ground floor flat in Creeland Grove, Catford, South-East London, on May 18 last year when the gang tried to rob him of cash and valuables.
Derran Bailey, 19, (pic. 2nd l.) of Elmington Road, Camberwell, was sentenced to life imprisonment – with a 22-year minimum – after being convicted at the Old Bailey of the murder and robbery, for which he received 7 years, 4 months.
Justin Barnett, 21, (pic. 3rd l.) of Bargrove Crescent, Lewisham, received 11 years for robbery.
Leo Jones, 18, (far r.) of Beechfield Road, Catford, received seven years, four months for robbery.
A 16-year old Sydenham youth, who cannot be identified, received seven years, four months for robbery.
Barnett, Jones and the 16-year old boy were found not guilty of murder.
All four went to Ian Jones’s flat determined to force their way in and during the struggle Mr. Jones was struck by a brick and beaten, with Bailey stabbing the victim through the heart.
The flat was ransacked and electrical goods taken by the gang.
Police were called in the early hours when neighbours heard a disturbance from inside the address and Mr. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post mortem examination at Greenwich Mortuary confirmed that he had been assaulted, and gave cause of death as a single stab wound to the heart.
An Incident Room was opened at the Homicide and Serious Crime Command based at Sutton under DCI Amanda Hargreaves.
The following day Bailey, Jones and the 16-year old attended Lewisham police station where they admitted their involvement in a burglary "that had gone wrong".
All three were arrested on suspicion of murder.
Later that day, detectives were informed that the murder weapon had been buried in a garden and searches revealed a blue handled kitchen knife wrapped in cloth.
Further searches of residential addresses resulted in the discovery of property that had been stolen from Mr. Jones's home.
On June 2 detectives went to Barnett's home address where he was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to Sutton police station.
All four were charged with murder and robbery.
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