Two men convicted of manslaughter after body found in car boot

Two men have been convicted of manslaughter after trying to dispose of the body of a missing man.

Justin Henry, 34, was found dead in the boot of a car in Croydon, 22 days after he had been reported missing.

Lewis Benjamin, 30, of Waddon New Road, Croydon, and Jamal Ali-Richards, 29, of Thornlaw Road, Norwood, were convicted of manslaughter at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday.

The pair were found not guilty of murder following an eight-week trial.

The court heard that while Justin had been reported missing, Benjamin and Ali-Richards were discarding his body and attempting to clean up evidence of his death. 

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Magee of the Met’s Specialist Crime Team who led the investigation said: “Benjamin and Ali-Richards went to great lengths to dispose of evidence and cover their tracks, which included significant attempts to dispose of Justin’s body.

Justin was reported missing on October 16, 2023, after he left his girlfriend’s house the night before and failed to return home.

He was last seen alive on CCTV, buying food at McDonald’s drive-thru in Croydon on October 15, before driving to Waddon New Road, where Benjamin lived. 

Justin’s car stayed outside the house for more than two hours before it was moved to Kingswood Drive – a 19 minute drive away.

Cops believe that Justin had died by this point and someone else had moved his car. 

The location of Justin’s car identified Benjamin, who lived on Waddon New Road, as a suspect. His friend, Jamal Ali-Richards was also determined as a suspect.

When police arrived at Benjamin’s address, it had been cleared of most furniture and the carpet had been ripped up and removed. 

The flat had also been recently deep-cleaned. Police declared the flat as a crime scene and forensic officers were called in to find spatters of blood on the walls.

Less than 100 metres from the address, officers found black plastic bags which contained a section of blood soaked carpet. 

When tested, the blood from the address and the carpet was matched to Justin.

Benjamin was arrested on October 24, 2023. When cops arrived at his home, he ran into the back garden and threw his phone away before being detained.

When his phone was analysed, it showed that Benjamin had been in contact with Justin before his disappearance.

During his interview, Benjamin refused to answer questions. He was charged with murder on October 25, 2023.

Ali-Richards handed himself into police and was arrested on October 27, 2023. He was also charged with murder on October 29. 

On November 6, 2023, cops found a car the defendants had bought in the days after the murder – with a false number plate – parked off Dale Road in Purley.

Justin’s body was in the boot.

On February 17, Benjamin pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice following his attempts to dispose of evidence. 

On March 21, during the trial, Ali-Richards also pleaded guilty to the same charge. 

Both men pleaded not guilty to murder.

Following an eight-week trial which began on February 17, they were both convicted of manslaughter.

DCI Craig Magee said: “The loss of Justin continues to have a long lasting and devastating impact on his family and friends. 

“Throughout the investigation and trial, the strength and resilience shown by them has been extraordinary. I hope that today’s verdict will provide an opportunity for them to begin rebuilding their lives.”

Ali-Richards and Benjamin will appear at Woolwich Crown Court on June 10 for sentencing.

Pictured top: Justin Henry whose body was found in the boot of a car 22 days after his disappearance (Picture: The Met)