Hackney killer jailed for fatal Upton Park shooting

A man has been jailed for more than 30 years after a fatal drive-by shooting in August 2021.

Deon Brisport, 30, of Lauriston Road, Hackney, was charged with the murder of Otas Sarkus after he was shot twice in the head during an attack on August 18 that year.

Otas, 20, was reportedly standing with a group of friends in Raymond Road near Upton Park station when a white Volvo SUV swerved towards them at speed.

Otas Sarkus, 20, was standing with a group of friends in Raymond Road near Upton Park Station that night before he was shot dead (Image: Metropolitan Police)

The Volvo hit a couple of parked cars on the way and then pulled alongside Otas and his friends.

The car’s windows were wound down and multiple shots were fired at the group.

Otas was struck twice in the eye and another man, aged 18, was struck in the back. Both men were taken to hospital.

While the other man survived his injuries, Otas died.

Read More: Man’s body found in Royal Victoria Dock, police say

Brisport and 32-year-old Dean Adams – of Stevenage Road in East Ham – were found guilty of murder following an Old Bailey trial that began in November 2022.

They were also convicted of the attempted murder of the other victim.

Brisport was jailed for life on Thursday (June 1) with a minimum of 32 years. 

The court heard that the Volvo used in the attack was dumped and set alight just more than half a mile away to conceal evidence. It was also found to be displaying cloned number plates.

Gunshot residue was found near the rear passenger window of the car during a forensic investigation. A jacket on the back seat that had Adams’ DNA was used as a piece of evidence.

The car’s location before the attack was tracked down by officers from Met’s Specialist Crime Command as it was given a parking ticket on the morning of August 18.

CCTV footage showed Adams and Brisport coming together to collect it.

Three pay as you go phones were activated for the first time on the afternoon of the murder and were turned off less than six hours later.

They were said to be used by Brisport and Adams to book minicabs to flee from the scene after dumping the Volvo.

Their regular phones, an analysis found, were not used at the time of the attack or in the lead-up to it.

Det Insp Louise Caveen said this was a “premeditated attack” with “sophisticated preparation and planning”.

She called it an unprovoked attack and said it is possible that the victims were not the intended targets, although Brisport’s motive is still unknown.

She added: “My thoughts are with the family of Otas who have suffered the most terrible loss. I pay tribute to their strength through these proceedings, which they have attended with dignity throughout.

“I hope they can take some comfort from the sentence handed down.”

Adams will be sentenced at a later date.