Drug addict is jailed for 30 years for Soho murder

BY YANN TEAR
yann@slpmedia.co.uk

A drug addict who attacked two people in Soho, fatally stabbing one, has been jailed for 30 years.

Joe Gynane, 34, of no fixed abode but attachments to the Wimbledon area, pleaded not guilty to murder by virtue of diminished responsibility.

He also pleaded not guilty to a grievous bodily harm charge connected to a second victim.

But the Old Bailey jury did not accept his defence an d, following a two-and-a-half week trial, found him guilty of both offences.

Gynane was given his life sentence at the same court on Thursday.

An investigation was launched after police were called just after 6am on Sunday, March 3 to reports of a 37-year-old man, Mohammed Elmi, suffering stab injuries in Romilly Street, central London.

Mohamed Elmi, who had been attacked with a large kitchen knife outside the Coach and Horses pub, was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service before being taken to hospital.

But he died from his injuries in hospital on the evening of Wednesday, March 6.
Following the attack of Mr Elmi, at around 11.35am, Gynane made his way to University Street, where he stabbed a 16-year-old boy twice to the leg.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and has since recovered from his injuries.

Officers attending the second stabbing spotted Gynane acting suspiciously near to the scene. He was challenged and fled on foot.

Following a short chase he was detained and arrested. A knife that he had discarded was recovered.

En-route to police custody Gynane made a series of confessions to officers about both stabbings and admitted to having taken heroin, crack cocaine and spice.

However, once at the police station he refused to be interviewed and spat at two officers. He was subsequently charged in connection with both stabbings.

Detective Inspector Justin Howick, from the Specialist Crime Command, led the investigation and said: “Shortly after his arrest, Gynane admitted stabbing Mr Elmi and a second young man in remorseless detail.

“His self-serving violence has had a terrible impact on Mr Elmi’s family, for whom this conviction will be of limited comfort.”