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Moment thug with 'sword' stabbed rival to death in broad daylight

A man has been jailed for life after he stabbed a rival to death with a 'sword' in a revenge attack.

Kyiza Sandiford, 23, killed Keelen Wong, 22, on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, south-west London, on October 3 last year.

Jurors were forced to watch the footage, as Sandiford twisted the knife into Mr Wong and then left the blade in his body, which was caught on a car dashcam.

Sandiford, from Merton, south-west London, was jailed for life on Friday, November 22, and will serve a minimum term of 23 years in prison. 

Two teenage defendants were found not guilty of the murder but one, aged 16, was found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Jacob Hallam, KC said the killers believed Mr Wong had been involved in the murder of their friend Ronaldo Scott.

Scott, 21, was stabbed to death on Morrison Road, Brixton, a month earlier on September 4, 2023, but no one has been arrested for his murder.

Sandiford was found guilty on Thursday, October 17 following a five-week trial. 

Kyiza Sandiford (pictured), 23, was jailed for life and will serve a minimum term of 23 years in prison
Kyiza Sandiford (pictured), 23, was jailed for life and will serve a minimum term of 23 years in prison
Keelen Wong (pictured), 22, was stabbed to death on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, southwest London, on October 3 last year
Keelen Wong (pictured), 22, was stabbed to death on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, southwest London, on October 3 last year
CCTV footage shows Sandiford running down the street while brandishing a large knife
CCTV footage shows Sandiford running down the street while brandishing a large knife

During the trial Mr Hallam said: 'It unfolded directly in front of a horrified motorist, Kate Campbell, as she sat in a queue of traffic waiting for some lights to change, directly behind the Polo into which Keelen Wong was leaning.

'It was also a killing that was, literally, caught on camera, because she had a dashcam in her car and it recorded everything.

'As well as this dashcam footage, the approach of the group of three, the prosecution say these three defendants and their departure was captured on CCTV cameras from the surrounding areas.'

Sandiford yelled: 'You think I wouldn't catch you?' before he stabbed Mr Wong.

Ms Campbell said the killer twisted the knife as it went in, before running away. Police and paramedics attended but Mr Wong's life could not be saved.

A post-mortem found the wound left by the knife was ten inches deep.

Mr Hallam showed the jury the knife inside a large box and said: 'I call it a knife, other people have described it as being like a sword. Given its size, you can see why.'

In his impact statement, Keelen's father Jerome Wong said: 'How old are you going to be when you finally realise that the culture you uphold so passionately makes you hate yourself.

Sandiford shouted 'You think I wouldn't catch you’ before plunging the knife into Mr Wong in broad daylight
Sandiford shouted 'You think I wouldn't catch you’ before plunging the knife into Mr Wong in broad daylight
Sandiford believed Keelen Wong had been involved in the murder of his friend Ronaldo Scott (pictured)
Sandiford believed Keelen Wong had been involved in the murder of his friend Ronaldo Scott (pictured)

'You put scores of people through a horrific trial process even though you knew it was you.

'You're here for murder, that's what's happening here today, your good years are being taken from you today.

'You foolish man. I tried so hard to be angry at you, but I'm not - I'm more mad at the culture, and how the culture has manipulated you, chewed you up and spit you out, made you a hopeless pawn in the equation.'

Judge Rebecca Trowler KC told Sandiford: 'At the time of this murder Keelen Wong was just 22, the devastation wreaked upon Keelen's family is set out among the impact statements from his family.

'Keelen was plainly, deeply loved and treasured and his death has taken a heavy toll on various members of the family in a variety of ways.

'There is no punishment in terms of years that can bring Keelen back or erase the irreparable harm caused by his murder.

'All I can do is recognise the dignity and courage with which his family endured the trial and in particular as the last minutes of Keelen's life were played over and over again.

'Keelen Wong died as a result of a single stab wound, you Kyiza Sandiford inflicted that stab wound.'

Police recently re-issued CCTV images of two hooded men dressed in black running from the scene of the attack after the murder of Scott
Police recently re-issued CCTV images of two hooded men dressed in black running from the scene of the attack after the murder of Scott
The two men caught on CCTV are wanted in connection with the murder of Sandiford's friend Ronaldo Scott
The two men caught on CCTV are wanted in connection with the murder of Sandiford's friend Ronaldo Scott

There was 'compelling evidence' that the killing was gang-related, as Sandiford believed Keelen to be a member of a rival gang.

Police recently re-issued CCTV images of two hooded men dressed in black running from the scene of the attack after the murder of Ronaldo Scott but so far nobody has been arrested in connection with his death. 

The judge added: 'At the moment where you stabbed Keelen Wong you had an intention to kill him, the blow was aimed at his vital organs.

'There is compelling evidence that the motive for this killing was that you believed Keelen Wong to be a member of or associated with a gang in the local area, a gang which was in dispute with the gang I am sure you were a member of.'

Beth O'Reilly KC, defending told the court that Sandiford had been mentally and physically abused as a child and had been put into care aged 13.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will serve a nine-month rehabilitation order including a weapons awareness course for possession of the bladed article.

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