19/03/2010

Dog Owning Attacker Guilty Of Murder

A dog owner who ordered his pet to attack a 16-year-old boy before stabbing him has been convicted of murder.

Crisdian Johnson, 22, of Quinton House, Wyvil Road, was charged on 30 April 2009 with the murder of Oluwaseyi 'Seyi' Ogunyemi, 16.

The victim was known to family and friends as Seyi - pronounced 'Shay'.

He was further charged with the attempted murder of a 17-year-old boy who was attacked by dogs and stabbed nine times during the same attack.

The jury unanimously found Johnson guilty on both counts and he will be sentenced at the Old Bailey today.

Johnson's brother, Shane Johnson, 20, who also stood trial for murder, attempted murder and GBH with intent was unanimously found not guilty on all counts.

On Monday 27 April 2009 police were called to Larkhall Park SW8 to reports of a large number of males stabbed.

Police and ambulance attended Priory Court, adjacent to Larkhall Park, and came across a critically wounded teenager who was subsequently identified as Seyi.

Despite the efforts of the medics Seyi died at the scene at 9.15pm.

The post-mortem examination revealed that Seyi, who suffered from Crohn's Disease and was very slightly built, had six stab wounds to the abdomen, three of which were superficial.

Witnesses to the murder described seeing a group of males with two dogs surround Seyi and his 17-year-old friend and attacking them like 'a pack of wild animals'.

Both victims were also attacked by the dogs, a large light brown pitbull / mastiff cross and a smaller brown Staffordshire Bull Terrier/ pitbull cross, having been ordered to do so.

A few hours after the attack Shane Johnson presented himself at Kings College Hospital with a stab wound and was subsequently arrested.

One dog received two stab wounds during the attack and was taken to a Blue Cross animal hospital for treatment.

Both dogs were seized and taken into police custody by the MPS specialist dogs unit.

Crisdian Johnson was believed to be a member of a Lambeth based gang and this incident is believed to have arisen out of escalating violence between him and a rival gang.

(PR/GK)

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