Newham: Two men jailed for ‘brutal’ murder of teenager

Two men have been jailed for life for the “brutal and cowardly” murder of a teenager in east London.

Awadh Saleh and Rio Burton-Devine, both aged 25 from east London, were found guilty of the murder of 18-year-old “Junior” Abubakarr Jah, who was fatally shot and stabbed in April 2021.

Sentencing them at the Old Bailey, Judge Mark Dennis KC said they must serve minimum sentences of 36 years and 31 years respectively.

Junior Jah’s murder came four years after his older brother Ahmed was killed in 2017 near the same location. His killer has still not been found and police renewed their appeal for information.

During the trial, the jury heard that Junior Jah was attacked by Saleh and Burton-Devine as he walked along Coolfin Road in Newham.

The defendants – driving a stolen Land Rover Discovery – had set out on a “ride-out” looking for anyone they believed might be linked to rival gangs, it was heard.

A shot was fired from within the vehicle hitting Junior Jah in the chest, causing him to fall backwards and on to the pavement.

CCTV showed that Saleh got out of the vehicle and stabbed the victim twice using a large knife.

Judge Dennis said it appeared Junior Jah was either shot “in a case of mistaken identity” or that he was “selected at random”.

“I am satisfied this venture has all the hallmarks of serious organised crime in the context of gang-related activity,” he said.

“This was a brutal and cowardly act of wanton violence on a defenceless teenager who was in effect executed as he stood on the pavement of a London street.”

In a victim impact statement Junior’s father, Abubakarr Jah, said: “His life was cut short by a horrific and brutal act of savagery.

“I have to live with the fact that my son’s final moments were in abject fear and pain.”

He said the defendants were a “blight to society and a danger to the community” and that they should be “ashamed” of themselves.

Saleh and Burton-Devine were also given an 18-year concurrent sentence for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Saleh was also sentenced to 18 months for possession of a bladed article.

Two other men – Asad Sharif, 29, from Manor Park, and Dino Hamza, 26, from Plaistow – were sentenced to 39 months and 28 months in prison respectively after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal.

Det Insp Gary Harreman, from the Met, said Junior Jah’s family had shown “great strength” throughout the investigation.

He said police continued to “fight for justice” for Ahmed, and detectives were working to find those responsible for his death.

“Seven years have passed since his murder but we know people’s allegiances can change over time,” he said.

He urged anyone with information to come forward.