Four jailed for more than 100 years for New Year’s Day knife attack in Dulwich

Four men have been jailed for a total of 117 years for a knife attack in Southwark which left a man fighting for his life.

Tashan Bailey-Brown, 23, of Meadowview Road, Lewisham, was jailed for 24 years and also given a five-year extended licence of release. Denzel Ealmeida, 22, of Elam Close, Camberwell, was jailed for 31 years.

Darren Soyemi, 25 of no fixed abode, was jailed for 31 years and Kevaniel Perkins-Robinson, 21, of Cato Road, Clapham, was jailed for 31 years.

Police officers identified and stopped a car that was seen fleeing from the scene of the attack on New Year’s Day 2023, and three of the four suspects were arrested.

Police had been called to Seeley Drive, West Dulwich, at around 11.40pm on January 1 last year following reports that an 18-year-old man had been attacked.

Paramedics attended the scene and rushed the man to hospital. It was later found he had sustained more than 60 stab wounds in the attack.

Witnesses reported seeing a car leave the scene. Its details were circulated and officers stopped the car in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich.

Three occupants, Bailey-Brown, Ealmeida and Soyemi, attempted to run from police but were detained and arrested.

Ealmeida was seen to throw a bag containing bloodied clothing as he attempted to flee from police. This was recovered and forensic testing confirmed the victim’s blood was on the items.

A machete was also found in the bag, again with traces of the victim’s blood on it – Ealmeida’s DNA was also found on the sheath of this weapon.

A forensic sweep of the car also found the victim’s blood on the gearstick and dashboard, having been transferred there by the occupants.

All three were charged with attempted murder.

Another item recovered from the car led detectives to identify the fourth suspect – Perkins-Robinson. A lock knife was recovered from the centre console of the car containing a DNA match for Perkins-Robinson.

The blade also had the victim’s blood on it. The forensic sweep of the car also found DNA from Perkins-Robinson on the steering wheel and he was arrested in June 2023 and later charged with attempted murder.

Following the conclusion of a four-week trial at the Old Bailey, all four were found guilty of attempted murder and remanded in custody. Last Friday, they were sentenced to a total of more than 100 years’ imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Yikira Turner, of the Central South Command Unit which covers Southwark, said: “This was a viscous, pre-planned attack which nearly resulted in the death of a young man.

“The verdict and sentencing would not have been possible without assistance from brave individuals in the local community who came forward to support this investigation.

“Hopefully this result will enable the victim and his family to now focus on his recovery and give the community some comfort now that four dangerous individuals have been taken off the street.”

Pictured top: Denzel Ealmeida (left) and Kevaniel Perkins-Robinson (Pictures: The Met)