Osoteku was one of the teenagers responsible for setting up the fight. That confidence and arrogance came too from knowing that between them they were so heavily armed that no other individual or smaller group or even a police officer or member of station staff could stop them. It acted as the direct catalyst for the pre-arranged meeting the next day which led to Sofyen's death. A breakaway group chased Sofyen into the tube ticket office area and kicked, stabbed and struck him with other weapons as travellers watched in disbelief. Sofyen, 15, died after being chased by a crowd of youths into Victoria Tube station in March 2010. Eight young people have been convicted of killing 15-year-old Sofyen Belamouadden in front of horrified commuters at one of the UK's busiest stations. Junior Bayode, now 19, was 16 when he joined a 20-strong mob that chased and killed Sofyen Belamouadden in front of hundreds of commuters at Victoria station. Sian Harrison. [1], The restaurant chain continues in Malaysia. [7][8] In May 1986, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. bankruptcy court. She was the only female charged in connection with the incident and spent 19 days in the witness box. Read about our approach to external linking. Jurors heard the night before the death one of the 17-year-olds, who was just 16 at the time, took to Facebook to recruit troops and weapons. Scientists are debating whether it's possible to harness the power of gravity for interstellar space travel. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. One of the accused killers is 18-year-old Victoria Osoteku, of Mereton Mansions, Brookmill Road, New Cross, who is suspected of helping arm the gang with a complete set of kitchen knives. He may face a retrial on that charge. CCTV footage showed Osoteku, who was in. The messages which were retrieved by the police revealed they were trying to source weapons including a samurai sword, flick knives, batons, metal bars and a set of kitchen knives, which were bought for 3.99 from the catalogue shop Argos by one of the accused in the school lunchbreak on the day of the murder, the court has told. Four youths, were sentenced on 14 October last year to two years' detention after admitting violent disorder. Victoria Osoteku, 19, the only girl in the gang, will be sentenced next week after being found guilty of manslaughter. Friday 22 April 2022 16:46 CCTV footage of the group running through Victoria station O n the day they killed him, Sofyen Belamouadden got up at seven and went into his mother's bedroom to. TWELVE teenagers have this morning been charged with the murder of 15-year-old Sofyen Belamouadden from Acton. They planned the attack on social media the night before, the court was told, sending messages to each other on Facebook and via BlackBerry Messenger. She said she did not kick the victim and sobbed: "I nudged him with my foot to see if he was OK.". In a statement read to the court, Naima Ghailan, the murdered boy's mother, said: 'No amount of words can describe the amount of pain and grief I live with day in, day out. [6] The restaurant was grossing $90,000 monthly during its first year of operations. Sofyen was rushed to St Thomas's hospital, but could not be saved and he was pronounced dead at 6.15pm. Victim Sofyen Belamouadden was killed at Victoria Tube Station in 2010. Credit: Met Police Accepting the prize at a ceremony in 2019, Dave said the story of the album was inspired by his. Police officers stopped the bus and found a selection of knives as well as blade-sharpening steels which were covered in the victim's blood. [6], There was a similar chain called "Twickenham Station" in Alabama and Florida during the same time span. "So brazen and confident were his killers they openly carried the various weapons they used," he said. . Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire, Victoria station killing: commuters shocked by knives, bars and batons, TheVictoria station killing verdict and the perils of applying joint enterprise, Victoria station killing: man convicted over Sofyen Belamouadden death. Request Line (877) 440-1047. He told his friends there was a 'beef' with other youths in west London and someone could get 'slumped' (stabbed). The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. The court heard Sofyen's blood was found on at least three knives recovered by police and one of the sharpening steels. 1981 newspaper ad for the Seattle Victoria Station location, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Victoria_Station_(restaurant)&oldid=1142147452, Regional restaurant chains in the United States, Defunct restaurant chains in the United States, Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1986, Articles needing additional references from December 2020, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Robert Freeman, Peter Lee, and Richard Bradley, Independently owned franchised restaurants in U.S.; Daiei and later Zensho in Japan, Lowell Farkas, President, CEO and Director (19871992), Columbia, MO (was at 402 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201, Building now Shiloh Bar & Grill), Orange Village, Ohio (located on Orange Place near Interstate 271; now demolished - another structure now occupies the site), Tokyo, Japan (still running under the name, Kobe, Japan (named "Central Station" which was Victoria Station's chain, now closed), Sapporo, Japan- complete with Big Boy statues, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 19:39. [5], By the end of 1978, Victoria Station had 97 restaurants, all company owned. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's 'I had a happy life with my four children at home then, on March 25, 2010, my life was shattered into a million pieces as I was robbed of my son. Read about our approach to external linking. Antique English railway artifacts were used as decor inside, and the exteriors were composed of American Railway cars, primarily boxcars, with a signature Caboose placed in front. Police stopped the attackers, who had fled on a bus, and found one of the knives used to stab the teenager in Omoregie's bag. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, said: "She was one of those who set up and organised the confrontation that led to the death. Prime Rib and Boxcars: Whatever Happened to Victoria Station? [6], The chain was designed to attract members of the baby boom generation. Sofyen, 15, died after being chased by a crowd of youths into Victoria Tube station in March 2010. Roberts, 17, booted the victim's head three times as if he 'were kicking a rugby football'. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Three men have been jailed for at least 18 years each for murdering a 15-year-old schoolboy at a tube station. Call (712) 755-5682 for more information. The teenager was one of the group who was armed with a knife, which the jury heard he used after Sofyen fell on to the floor during the attack. They were ordered to serve concurrent eight-year detention sentences for conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Kicked dying boy He was stabbed nine times and suffered wounds to his heart, a lung and. "Her responsibility for the death is very great indeed, even though it was others that delivered the final fatal blows that led to Sofyen Belamouadden's death. His attackers used a 3.99 five-piece knife set bought from Argos, as well as batons, iron bars and a samurai sword in an act described as one of "indescribable aggression". At its peak, the Universal City location of Victoria Station was among the highest grossing restaurants in the United States. Victoria Osoteku, 20, of Deptford, south London, was found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. Bayode was the last of 20 people to be tried in connection with Sofyen's death, Sofyen Belamouadden was killed in a 12-second attack, Obi Nwokeh, Christopher Omoregie and Samsom Odegbune were convicted of murder. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Antique English railway artifacts were used as decor inside, and the exteriors were composed of . Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. Sofyen Belamouadden was stabbed repeatedly during what detectives believe was a pre-planned fight between rival school gangs who had descended on Victoria at rush-hour armed with several knives. [10], A new company, called Victoria Station Acquisition Corporation and was controlled by Lowell Farkas, purchased the Victoria Station trademark and 11 of the restaurants for $6.5 million and the assumption of a $1 million tax liability. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. \r\rThe series of linked trials involving 20 defendants has been the biggest-ever joint prosecution of a gang over a killing.\r\rThe Appeal Court's decision that Junior Bayode, who was found guilty of manslaughter, will not face a retrial for murder marks the end of a prosecution that revealed how tensions between youths could spiral out of control in the heart of the capital. Adonis Akra, 18, Samuel Roberts, 19, and Femi Oderinwale, 18, were found guilty of manslaughter and given 12 years detention each. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Junior Bayode, now 19, was found guilty at the central criminal court of the manslaughter of Sofyen Belamouadden and of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. The trial at the Old Bailey heard the rush-hour attack was planned on Facebook, and followed tensions between pupils from two west London schools. The defendants, all from west London, were among 20 pupils charged in connection with the attack. The jury were told Sofyen Belamouadden, aged 15, was hunted down punched, kicked and stabbed by up to 20 youths in the ticket hall of the Underground station. The jury could not agree a verdict on murder and Bayode, from Streatham in south London, was remanded in custody until Friday for the Crown Prosecution Service to decide if it will seek a retrial. The trial heard some of the pupils saw the station as "home territory". One of the accused killers is. A witness said she had been "gloating" about what happened the following day at her sixth-form college. The court heard that she was behind a youth who led the charge with a Samurai sword. Osoteku, the only woman charged over the killing, was said to be at the centre of the attack. The barrister said the confidence and arrogance stemmed from the group nature of the attack. The victim, who was studying for GCSEs, was hunted down and set upon with knives and metal bars in front of hundreds of commuters at Victoria station in a murder captured on CCTV. Victim: Schoolboy Sofyen Belamouadden, 15, was stabbed to death at London's Victoria station during rush hour Samson Odegbune held the 12in sword above his head as he, Christopher. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The sword-brandishing youth led a running charge at their rivals. The group pursued Sofyen into the station, down the escalator and into the ticket hall, where a smaller group hacked, kicked and battered him to death in front of scores of commuters. 5SAH Webinar EncroChat- Practical Steps for a Defence Lawyer what do we know so far? Victoria Osoteku arriving at the Old Bailey on Monday. One youth, to be tried for Sofyen's murder later in the year, was left with a bloody nose. A Gannett Company. Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC described in court the extraordinary onslaught that took place in full public gaze. . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. A further three teenagers, Adonis Akra, 18, Samuel Roberts, 19, and Femi Oderinwale, 18, were convicted of manslaughter and given 12 years detention each.It acted as the direct catalyst for the pre-arranged meeting which led to Sofyens death. On the previous day, March 24, the two groups of rival teens were seen arguing at the station. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Sofyen was a pupil at the Henry Compton School in Fulham. Rebecca Camber for the Daily Mail Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Nor do you in any way acknowledge responsibility for the killing.' Three boys and one girl who were arrested on Monday in connection with the murder remain in custody. "So brazen and confident were his killers that they openly carried the various weapons that they used with them as they ran towards him and together hunted him down.". The Appeal Court has ruled that Junior Bayode, 19, will not stand trial again over the death of Sofyen Belamouadden15, at London's Victoria station. What's he waiting for? Five teenagers have been convicted of killing a 15-year-old boy at Victoria station in central London. She is the fourth person convicted of manslaughter. Osoteku was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter in April, along with three other youths. The verdict brings to an end with mixed results the biggest joint-enterprise murder prosecution ever brought to court in England and Wales. So brazen and confident were his killers, we suggest, they openly carried the various weapons they used with them as they ran towards him and hunted him down. "You gathered together for the purpose of serious mass violence in a busy public place at the height of the rush hour," he said. All six defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Junior Bayode, now 19, is 17th person to be convicted over killing after being found guilty of manslaughter, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Sofyen Belamouadden, 15, died from multiple stab wounds after being chased by a 20-strong mob through Victoria station in London in March 2010. The company was among the first restaurant companies to offer its employees stock options and an ESOP program. What's he waiting for? Victoria Osoteku, 19, the only woman charged in connection with the death, was also found guilty of manslaughter and will be sentenced next week. The argument is thought to be over a girl and had arisen before at a 'rave' the previous Christmas and again on March 23 and 24. The theme of the restaurant was loosely based on London's Victoria Station. Roberts, of Camberwell, south-east London, Adonis Akra, of Stockwell, of south London, both 18, and another 17-year-old were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. One member of the gang, Samuel Roberts, told the court that he joined in the violence on 25 March - captured on CCTV - simply because "everyone else was doing it". In the end three teenagers were convicted of murder, five, including Bayode, of manslaughter, two of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, and seven of violent disorder. [9] Eight months later, it was reported in January 1987 that the company had a restructuring plan in place that would require it to sell a number of restaurants. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. She also said her trousers were really wet but still in her bedroom. Victoria Osoteku, 20, of Deptford, south London, was. 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