Friend murdered Kelva Smith with ‘Rambo’ knife in South Norwood street over stolen motorbike

A man has been found guilty of murder after attacking a former friend with a large ‘Rambo’ knife following a dispute over a stolen motorbike.

Tyrone Farquharson, 20, of Archer Road, South Norwood was convicted at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 25 October of the murder of 20-year-old Kelva Smith.

Kelva was murdered on Monday, 5 March in South Norwood when Farquharson launched a sudden and violent knife attack on him in the street.

Farquharson, who was seen laughing and joking with two friends after the killing and in the dock, was also found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon, a knife.

A 16-year-old boy of East Croydon was also convicted of possessing an axe but was found not guilty of murder.

A 14-year-old boy from the South Norwood area was found not guilty on all counts.

Detective Sergeant Rob Tickle, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Kelva Smith died close to his home; ambushed and attacked by someone he once considered a friend.

“This young man lost his life due to a disagreement over a motorbike. He suffered appalling injuries in the middle of a busy street where families live and play.

“This was not a gang-related crime, nor was it postcode-related; it was a senseless and preventable one, committed by Farquarson making poor choices to resolve a dispute by carrying knives and weapons with deadly consequences.

“Now there are two families who are suffering through the wasted potential of young lives close to them, some through the guilty verdicts handed down today and most tragically, through the family of Kelva Smith having to bury their son. This has to stop.

“Since the day of Kelva’s murder, individuals accused before the court have sought to frustrate the investigation and have treated the seriousness of the trial with utter contempt and disdain. Shouting from the dock and laughing and joking between themselves, they showed Kelva and his family as little dignity in death as they did in the final moments of his life.

“Today’s verdicts also reflect the relentless hard work of the Homicide detectives who continue day after day, to work incredibly hard to ensure that yet another evidentially strong case was put before the court to ensure justice was done.”

Around 4pm on 5 March, Kelva had arranged to meet Farquharson, who he knew well in Archer Road.

Kelva wanted to talk about a motorbike he had stolen from Gordon Crescent, Croydon, several weeks before that he had intended to sell. It had gone missing the previous evening and during the course of 5 March, Kelva was told by his brother that Farquharson and a 14-year-old boy had been riding it round the local area.

Kelva walked to Archer Road with his cousin. They talked to Farquharson on the phone on the way and were frustrated because they thought Farquharson was not being honest about whether he had the bike or if he would return it.

In Archer Road, Kelva and his cousin were approached by the three defendants. Angry words were exchanged and almost immediately Farquharson produced a large ‘Rambo’ style knife. The 16-year-old, aged 15 at the time, was brandishing an axe.

Farquharson lunged forward and stabbed Kelva. He was stabbed another four times, including to his left side and his abdomen. He and his cousin then ran off, pursued by the defendants.

The victims tried to retreat by running to some parked cars on the other side of the road. Kelva’s cousin picked up a piece of wood and tried to defend them. The wood broke in two and the victims ran into Albert Road, pursued by the group brandishing their weapons.

There Kelva collapsed on the pavement. His attackers fled and Kelva’s cousin and members of the public came to help him.

Police and the London Ambulance Service were quickly on scene and officers and paramedics fought to save Kelva’s life.

London’s Air Ambulance also attended, but none of the medical experts were able to stop the internal bleeding from the stab wound to Kelva’s abdomen and he died in Albert Road at 5.34pm.

An investigation was launched by the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.

They were able to confirm Farquharson and the 16-year-old were in the area of Birchanger Road, Woodside Green, near South Norwood on 5 March when Kelva had been told they were riding around.

Farquarson went to the house of a friend in Westgate Road and asked to borrow a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. The motorbike was parked outside and the friend’s dad let them search his tool box, thinking they would carry out some repairs. Instead, the teenager picked up the axe from there.

Farquharson then left and met up with both teenagers before going to Archer Road where Kelva and his cousin were attacked.

The incident was witnessed by a number of alarmed members of the public. After the attack one saw Farquharson walking back to his home; he was laughing and joking. The 16-year-old defendant was close by and their weapons were clearly visible.

They spent under a minute inside Farquharson’s address before coming back outside and making for an alleyway off Albert Road, apparently looking for somewhere to dispose of their weapons. The weapons, were never recovered.

Both Farquharson and the 16-year-old handed themselves into Lewisham police station the day after Kelva’s murder. The other boy [aged 14] also handed himself in, on Friday, 9 March.

Police later found the stolen motorbike at the centre of the dispute at the back of flats in Albert Road.