The ringleader of an east London street gang, already in prison for murder, has been jailed for at least 36 years for the fatal stabbing of a teenager.
On November 16, 2017, Hamza Ul Haq, of Manor Park, was involved in the fatal group stabbing of 18-year-old Kacem Mokrane in Walthamstow.
Months later, Ul Haq was involved in the mistaken identity murder of 20-year-old Joseph Williams-Torres, who was shot dead as he sat with a friend in a van in March 2018, also in Walthamstow.
In 2020, Ul Haq was found guilty of Joseph’s murder and jailed for life.
Following a three-month trial, Ul Haq was found guilty in May of Kacem’s murder alongside three other men.
The four men were jailed today (June 28) at the Old Bailey.
Abdirisak Ali, 26, of Buxton Drive, Walthamstow, was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 17 years.
Kamil Kazmierski, 23, of Acacia Road, Walthamstow was jailed for 16 years and Luca Griffiths, 19, of no fixed address was sentenced to 14 years and four months imprisonment.
The killers were associated with the Mali Boys gang which had been engaged in a bloody feud with the neighbouring Priory Court (or Higham Hill) gang in Walthamstow.
READ MORE: East London man who shared terrorist content in extremist group chats is jailed
Judge Angela Rafferty told Ul Haq he had played a “pivotal role” in planning the murder and had been recorded vowing revenge after being targeted in an acid attack two days earlier.
The judge said the killing of Kacem came amid a “bloody and vengeful feud between gangs” and involved significant planning and the use of “horrific knives” being openly brandished.
Kacem had pizza and told his mother he loved her before leaving his home on the evening of the attack.
Two cars pulled up and 10 males got out and chased him down the road.
Ul Haq was among those leading the chase with attackers brandishing knives.
In just 25 seconds, Kacem was surrounded, pushed up against a wall and suffered serious injuries.
He died four days later in hospital.
READ MORE: East London shooting victim ‘remains critical’, police say
The attacking group then ran back to the waiting vehicles which sped off.
The court was told the immediate trigger for the “revenge murder” was an acid attack in Subway and Downtown Pizza in Walthamstow two days earlier.
Ul Haq and others had been squirted with acid and one friend was stabbed, although not fatally.
READ MORE: Man arrested after woman in her 60s ‘attacked’ in her home
The family of Kacem said in a statement: “This pack travelled around streets in Walthamstow, in two vehicles. Actively looking for “Prey”.
“This was a cowardly action, as there was 10 of them and Kacem was alone. He had no chance of escape.
“Kacem will never grow old. He will forever be a young man with wings at his feet, whose life was taken in a most horrific manner.
“A big part of the family will always be absent.”
Reporting by PA.
Join the exciting world of cryptocurrency trading with ByBit! As a new trader, you can benefit from a $10 bonus and up to $1,000 in rewards when you register using our referral link. With ByBit’s user-friendly platform and advanced trading tools, you can take advantage of cryptocurrency volatility and potentially make significant profits. Don’t miss this opportunity – sign up now and start trading!
Recent Comments