Man sentenced to life in prison after ‘horrific’ park murder with a hunting knife

A Clapham man who murdered a ‘heroic’ victim using a large hunting knife in a Brixton park has been sentenced to life in prison.

Levi Paschal, 34, of Clarence Avenue, Clapham, was found guilty of murdering 38-year-old Lee Casey in August 2019.

Paschal was sentenced on Friday, at the Old Bailey, to life with a minimum term of 20 years for murder, 11 years for attempted robbery and six years for grievous bodily harm (GBH) against a second victim.

Paschal’s partner, Clementine Jones, 32, also of Clarence Avenue, was also sentenced to 10 years for attempted robbery and five years for GBH.

A separate suspended sentence she was serving was activated, adding a further three months to her total sentence.

The court previously heard how Paschal, a drug user, and Jones conspired to rob a different victim after Jones had arranged to meet him at Rush Common, Brixton Hill, on August 29, 2019 – under the pretence of buying drugs.

Shortly before midday, the intended victim arrived at Rush Common and sat down on a bench with Mr Casey and another woman.

Paschal and Jones arrived, and after argument, attempted to attack the intended victim with a large hunting knife – the man ran away but slipped and was grabbed by Paschal.

Seeing the events unfolding in front of him, Mr Casey attempted to intervene and was stabbed by Paschal.

Those present attempted to give him first aid until police and paramedics arrived, while Paschal and Jones fled the scene.

Mr Casey was taken to hospital but died that same afternoon, just after 2pm.

In a statement released on behalf of Lee’s family following the sentencing of Levi Paschal, his sister Michelle Casey said: “Lee’s heroic actions in trying to protect someone did not come as a surprise to us.

“However, this brave and selfless deed resulted in his life being taken.

“Levi Paschal was willing to destruct anything that got in his way, including Lee’s life.

“He can still see and speak to his loved ones but we will never see or speak to Lee again. How is that fair?

“There is no punishment that he could receive that would ever be slightly comparable to the punishment he caused us when he ripped Lee from us.

“It will never give us what we want which is to have Lee back, but hopefully for the foreseeable future he will be unable to selfishly take another person’s life and destroy another family.

“As a family, we all suffer anxiety on a daily basis, thinking that Lee will walk through the door or call our phones again.

“The events of that day and the horrific way in which Lee died plays on our minds constantly. The catastrophic damage it has caused us is irreparable.

“All we have wished for is to hear Lee say ‘I love you’ as he always did, but we will never hear this again.”

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, who led the investigation, said: “The actions of Levi Paschal have utterly devastated Lee Casey’s family and friends.

“While no words can begin to ease the pain they are suffering, I hope they can take some solace in the fact that Lee was bravely attempting to assist a friend when he was fatally attacked.

“Paschal and Jones set out that day to intimidate and use violence to get their way.

“While both will now face the consequences of their actions, the real consequence is borne by Lee’s family who have lost a loved one.”

Following the conclusion of the trial on January 28, Jones was found not guilty of murder. Paschal and Jones were also acquitted of a further count of attempted robbery.