Man found guilty of murder by dog attack and brutal stabbing
Crisdian Johnson was found guilty of murder
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Thursday, 18, Mar 2010 05:09
By Richard James.
A 22-year-old man who ordered dogs to attack a teenage boy before he stabbed him to death has been found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.
Crisdian Johnson, from south-west London, was convicted of killing Oluwaseyi 'Seyi' Ogunyemi in a brutal attack in April 2009.
The case was described as unique as dangerous dogs were used as weapons in the attack. Johnson is said to have unleashed the dogs in Larkhall Park to chase, bring down and savage Seyi.
Prosecutors quoted eyewitnesses as claiming the teenager and a 17-year-old friend were then attacked by a gang of youths who acted like a "pack of animals".
The court heard how the 16-year-old suffered six stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, while his friend also received nine stab wounds but fortunately survived.
The case involved new techniques to analyse canine DNA for the first time and comes just a week after home secretary Alan Johnson announced plans to introduce compulsory insurance and micro-chipping to combat the growing problem of dangerous dogs.
Speaking after the verdict, Detective Inspector Mick Norman from the Metropolitan police said: "This horrific attack was committed on a very slight teenage boy who stood no chance of defending himself.
"The fact that Crisdian Johnson also ordered dogs to take part in the attack illustrates his sickening attitude to violence.
"The advances in dog DNA and forensic work now mean that anyone who owns a dog and uses it to attack people can be identified and prosecuted."
Johnson, who was also convicted of the attempted murder of the victim's 17-year-old friend, is due to be sentenced on Friday.
His 20-year-old brother Shane, who was also on trial, was cleared of murder.