Four men have been sentenced to a combined total of 117 years for a knife attack in Dulwich on New Year’s Day 2023. 

The 4 men all from South London, Tashan Bailey-Brown (23), Darren Soyemi (25), Denzel Ealmeida (22) and Kevaniel Perkins-Robinson (21), were all jailed for a total of 117 years for attempted murder.

Ealmeida

Bailey-Brown

Perkins-Robinson

Soyemi

 (Credits: Met Police)

An eighteen-year old man was left fighting for his life with more than 60 stab wounds on the Kingswood Estate on New Year’s Day 2023. Following reports of an attack, police units were called to Seeley Drive, West Dulwich at around 11:40pm on January 1st of last year. Paramedics swiftly attended the crime scene and the young man was rushed to hospital- it was later found he had sustained more than 60 stab wounds during the attack.

Witnesses reported a car occupied by three men fleeing the scene, but were promptly stopped by and identified by police units on Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. Bailey-Brown, Ealmeida and Soyemi were detained and taken into custody.

Ealmeida was observed discarding a bag containing blood-stained clothing from the car window whilst attempting to flee the scene. The bag was subsequently retrieved, and forensic analysis confirmed the presence of the victim’s blood on the items. The bag also contained a machete- which found the victims blood on it as well as Ealmeida’s DNA on the sheath of the weapon. During a forensic examination of the vehicle, traces of the victim’s blood were discovered on the gearstick and dashboard which were likely to have transferred there by the occupants. All three men were then charged with attempted murder.

Further forensic investigation of the vehicle revealed a second offensive weapon- a lock knife which was recovered from the centre console of the car containing a DNA match for the fourth suspect and leading detectives to identify Perkins-Robinson. The knife also tested positive for the victims blood. Perkins-Robinson was arrested in June 2023 and later charged with attempted murder.

Perkins-Robinson, although not present in the car, was connected to the assault when a bloodied lock knife was discovered in the center console by the police. Subsequent DNA testing identified Perkins-Robinson as a match as the blade was found to contain the victim’s blood. Additionally, DNA from Perkins-Robinson was detected on the steering wheel during the forensic examination of the vehicle. As a result, he was apprehended in June 2023 and subsequently charged with attempted murder.

After a four-week trial at the Old Bailey, on Monday February 5th all four individuals were convicted of attempted murder and remanded into custody. They received their sentences at the same court on Friday, March 8, totalling 117 years of imprisonment.

Bailey-Brown has been sentenced to 24 years whilst Ealmeida, Soyemi and Perkins-Robinson were sentenced to 31 years in prison.

Detective Sergeant of the Central South Command Unit, Yikira Turner, said:

“This was a viscous, pre-planned attack which nearly resulted in the death of a young man. The verdict and sentencing would not have been possible without assistance from brave individuals in the local community who came forward to support this investigation. Hopefully this result will enable the victim and his family to now focus on his recovery and give the community some comfort now that four dangerous individuals have been taken off the street.”

“The verdict and sentencing is a reflection of the hard work put in by the investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service, but would not have been possible without assistance from brave individuals in the local community who came forward to support this investigation. Hopefully this result will enable the victim and his family to now focus on his recovery and give the community some comfort now that four dangerous individuals have been taken off the street.”

The escalating knife crime epidemic in London has become an urgent concern, casting a shadow over the city’s safety and wellbeing. Statistics reveal a worrying trend, with a surge in knife-related incidents plaguing communities across the city. Despite efforts to tackle the root causes, such as poverty, gang activity, and lack of opportunities, the problem persists, leaving families shattered and communities reeling from the trauma. The consequences are dire, with lives lost and futures shattered in senseless acts of violence. As authorities grapple with this complex issue, there’s an urgent need for comprehensive strategies that address the underlying social, economic, and cultural factors fuelling this alarming rise in knife crime, ensuring the safety and security of all Londoners.