Michael Jonas murder: Six men jailed more than six years after ‘pre-planned attack’

Six men who lured a teenager to a park before they stabbed him to death have been sentenced for the murder of 17-year-old Michael Jonas, more than six after the “pre-planned attack”.

Michael, aged 17, was found with stab wounds in Betts Park, Anerley, on November 2, 2017. 

Despite the efforts of emergency services he died at the scene. The attack lasted less than 120 seconds.

The six men – all teenagers at the time of Michael’s murder – were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today.

Nyron Jean Baptiste, 23, of Queen Adelaide Road, Penge, Divon Henry-Campbell, 23, of Fayland Avenue, Streatham, Sarraviho Smith, 24, of Grove Hill Road, Camberwell, Jason Smith, 20, of Bow Arrow Lane, Dartford,  Jamie Marshall, 22, of Burham Close, Penge and Ryan Girense Brown, 21, of Sydenham Road, Croydon were all sentenced to life in prison.

The six men were first charged in December 2017, but charges were dropped early the following year by the Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS).

After investigating officers secured more evidence, the CPS agreed to reinstate the original charges in October 2022, and the men were remanded until trial.

The detectives’ investigation gathered CCTV from the park and surrounding areas.

This revealed that at around 7pm on the day Mr Jonas was killed, he had been approached by five of the men as he walked down nearby Anerley Road, before all walked into the park together.

At 7.12pm, Jean Baptiste was captured on CCTV arriving at the scene. Phone analysis later showed he had been called to the area by Henry-Campbell.

Just three minutes later, by 7.15pm, all of the attackers were seen fleeing the park on bicycles. 

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest.

DNA from blood stains at the scene was also found to be one billion times more likely to be from Jean-Baptiste than from an unknown and unrelated individual.

None of the group ever admitted responsibility or provided any reason for their actions, however the court heard that they had believed Michael was a “snitch” and so carried out their fatal attack.

Jean Baptiste was sentenced to life with a minimum of 31 years, Henry-Campbell received  life with a minimum of 18 years, Sarraviho Smith was handed life with a minimum of 17 years and Jason Smith was sentenced to life with a minimum of 12-and-a half-years.

Marshall was sentenced to  life with a minimum of 13 years and Girense Brown received life with a minimum of 12 years

Detective Constable Becky Pitcher said: “Michael’s family are devastated by his loss but have shown the utmost courage and bravery to keep fighting for justice. 

“Their lives will never be the same, but we know how important it is to them that those responsible will now be spending a significant amount of time behind bars.”

Pictured top: The six men found guilty of Michael Jonas’ murder, clockwise from top left, Jamie Marshall, Jason Smith, Divon Henry-Campbell, Nyron John-Baptiste, Ryan Brown and Sorraviho Smith (Picture: The Met)