Romford teen killed man because of where he lived, jury told

A Romford teen is on trial for murder after allegedly killing a 19-year-old because he was from a different area of London.

Godfrey Madondo, 20, from Peckham, and Kadjo Kadio, 18 from Romford, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday (June 6) accused of murdering Jeremiah Sewell in a car park at Beckenham Place Park.

Khelsi Johnson-Davies, 20, is also on trial accused of attempting to pervert the course of public justice after she is alleged to have concealed, cleaned and attempted to dispose of clothes worn during the killing. 

Opening the case, Prosecutor Alan Kent KC told the jury: “Jeremiah Sewell was stabbed to death while he was sitting in a car with some friends in that car park.

“The motive of the murder appears simply to be because he came from Beckenham, while the defendants come from Peckham.” 

Jeremiah met friends at a home music studio on Friday, July 15 last year, then they drove around in their cars into the early hours of Saturday, July 16.  

They eventually parked in the car park and sat around listening to music and chatting, Mr Kent said. 

“At about 4.25am that morning fate had it that the defendants, the three of them, arrived in a black-coloured Vauxhall Astra,” Mr Kent said. 

Jeremiah’s group recognised Kadio, who was sitting in the back seat of the Astra. Mr Kent told the jury that Jeremiah used to be friends with Kadio but they had a falling out. 

The driver of Jeremiah’s car drove next to the Astra, the court heard. Kadio then got out the Astra and approached the back seat of the other car where Jeremiah was sitting with the window down, Mr Kent said. 

Madondo, who was wearing a balaclava, then also got out the Astra and approached Jeremiah’s car, it is alleged. 

“Someone from the victim’s group heard a question, a simple question asked of Jeremiah Sewell. What end’s you with? In other words, where you from?” Mr Kent said. 

“Jeremiah Sewell replied I’m a B-boy, meaning Beckenham. Within seconds of saying I’m a B-boy he was stabbed twice in the neck.” 

The prosecution alleges that it was Madondo who stabbed Jeremiah Sewell. 

The defendants fled the scene while Jeremiah’s friends drove him to Lewisham Hospital where he died within an hour, Mr Kent said. 

A car Kadio was a passenger in was stopped by police for an unrelated matter later in the day, the court heard. 

There was a suitcase in the boot with his passport in and he had booked a flight to Italy for 10pm that night, Mr Kent said. 

He was arrested and gave no comment interviews before being released under investigation. 

Madondo was arrested at his home the day after Jeremiah died. 

Johnson-Davies was arrested on July 19 and a search of her address revealed a grey balaclava with Madondo’s DNA on it, Mr Kent said. 

Incriminating messages were also found on Johnson-Davies’ phone including her giving instructions about how to remove blood from clothes, Mr Kent alleges. 

While Madondo is allegedly the man who stabbed Jeremiah, the prosecution claims that Kadio was the one who confronted him.

Madondo, of Colegrave Road in Peckham, and Kadio, of Friars Court in Romford, both deny murder. 

Johnson-Davies, of Barset Road in Nunhead, denies perverting the court of public justice. 

The trial continues.