Girl found guilty of teenager's murder in "honey trap"
Shakilus Townsend was stabbed to death last year
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Wednesday, 08, Jul 2009 03:54
A 16-year-old girl has been found guilty of the murder of a teenage boy after luring him to his death in a "honey trap".
Shakilus Townsend was stabbed to death by a group of youths at a block of flats in Thornton Heath, south London, in July last year.
The 16-year-old was lured to the location by Samantha Joseph who was today found guilty of his murder by an Old Bailey jury.
During the trial she had admitted persuading Shakilus to go to the flats but thought he was only going to be beaten up.
Today her former boyfriend Danny McLean, 18, was also convicted of murder.
Tyrell Ellis, 19, and Don-Carlos Ellis, 18, from Thornton Heath, Andre Johnson-Haynes, 19, from Croydon, and two 17-year-old youths were also convicted of murder.
The court heard how Joseph lured Shakilus to the group after conspiring with McLean.
Shakilus and Joseph and begun a relationship shortly after she split up with Mclean and after hearing about the relationship and the fact he had been involved in a fight with one of his friends, McLean conspired to attack him.
Joseph then brought Shakilus to the flats where the gang attacked him with knives and baseball bats and he suffered a fatal stab wound to the liver.
Detective Inspector Barney Ratcliffe, from the Metropolitan police, said: "This is an absolutely tragic case, where a young boy has been viciously attacked simply for liking the wrong girl.
"Even though she knew her relationship with Shakilus was putting him in danger, Samantha Joseph carried on and when the point of no return arrived she knowingly and callously led him to his death.
"The level of deception, cunning and co-ordination used to lure Shakilus to his death, illustrates the determination of all those involved. After the attack Joseph and McLean calmly walked away, even stopping in a nearby shop to seek medical help for a head injury he had suffered during the incident.
"These convictions are testimony to the quality of this investigation into what was a complex scenario. It should also serve as a warning to all those who associate with violent individuals, that even if you are not directly party to an attack, if you know and conspire with others, we can and will prosecute you."
Sentencing is due later.