Brutal attacker wrote rap boasting about stabbing which left victim permanently brain-damaged

A teenager who stabbed a man in the chest, leaving him with brain damage – and then wrote a rap about it – has been jailed.

Jeremiah Ntim, 17, of Opal Street, Kennington – who can now be named after the judge lifted reporting restrictions – was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for grievous bodily harm on Friday, 28 September at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Ntim, pictured above, who had previously pleaded guilty, also received an extended sentence of five years’ on licence.

The victim, 30-year-old Dwayne Kevin Buchanan, originally from Birmingham and living in Kennington at the time of the attack, required heart surgery and was left with a serious brain injury.

He remained in hospital for four months before being transferred to a rehabilitation centre and will require full-time care for the rest of his life.

The court heard that police were called to reports of a man being stabbed in an unprovoked attack on Kennington Road in Lambeth at 11:38pm on Friday, 23 March.

Members of the public reported seeing two men arguing in the street, with one shouting loudly and the other asking to be left alone.

One of the men stabbed the other and made off, with officers attending and finding the victim with critical injuries.

He received medical attention at the scene before being taken to a nearby hospital in a critical condition.

The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival but witnesses reported that he had spat at the victim before stabbing him. The victim’s clothing was taken away by police and sent off for forensic analysis; Ntim’s DNA was recovered from saliva on the victim’s jacket.

Officers attended Ntim’s home address on Tuesday, 3 April and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder.
Evidence recovered from his address included a folding knife that was thrown from a window and a mobile phone.The phone contained photos of Ntim with members of a gang and text messages indicating his possible membership.

Also found on the phone in the ‘Notes’ section were song lyrics believed to have been written by Ntim, as follows: “Man can’t talk abt chinging. I love hittin chest or belly. Any sort of disrespect I’m leavin the whole street messy […] Funny boys us wanna play clown No Joke when u bump into one of my team. I Ching man n don’t make a sound Den I take a rest next to the crime scene.”

Ntim was charged on Wednesday, 4 April.

Extensive enquiries by local officers and the invaluable information provided by witnesses who saw the attack provided the prosecution with a very strong case against him.

In a statement, Dwayne’s family, said: “Dwayne is a loving and caring man with the best personality we have encountered. We are absolutely devastated about the fact he was attacked on the streets of London, so far away from home and the people who love and care for him.

“It is difficult to put into words just how heartbroken we are. We felt that we have lost the best bits of Dwayne. His mind that is left behind is so very weak and fragile and he becomes vacant before your eyes.

“We are left with so many questions, many of which might never be answered, and such uncertainty over his future. We are not sure if he really remembers who he is and how much he means to everyone.

“We deeply miss having him around to talk to and share our daily life with him. Words cannot begin to express the emptiness and hurt his family feels inside. We retain hope and have our prayers, as we all need to be strong for Dwayne, because he needs us all now to be stronger than ever.”

Detective Constable Philip Boon, from Lambeth CID, said: “Dwayne was subjected to a horrific assault and it was only thanks to the outstanding efforts of medical staff on the scene that he survived.

“His injuries will affect him and his family and friends for the rest of their lives.

“Those who carry knives must face the consequences of their actions and we will continue to relentlessly pursue offenders intent on committing serious violence in the capital.”