Killers who stabbed man to death in youth centre seen chasing victim on CCTV

Rishon Florant, 17, and Chibuzo Ukonu, 18, have been convicted of killing Glendon Spence, 23, at The Marcus Lipton Youth Centre in Brixton, South London

Horrifying footage shows two teenager killers chasing a man into a youth club before stabbing him to death in front of shocked teenagers.

Glendon Spence, 23, desperately tried to escape by running around a ping-pong table at The Marcus Lipton Youth Centre in Brixton, South London.

CCTV from the club shows him being chased by Rishon Florant, 17, and Chibuzo Ukonu, 18.

Mr Spence slipped and was unable to fend off his attackers, who stabbed him in the thigh, leaving him to bleed to death.

Florant denied but was convicted of murder by an Old Bailey jury while Chibuzo Ukonu was found guilty of manslaughter.

Horrifying CCTV footage shows the killers chasing victim Glendon Spence

Judge Mark Dennis, QC, lifted restrictions previously protecting Florant's anonymity and remanded the pair in custody ahead of sentence on 10 October.

Earlier prosecutor Julia Evans told jurors: "From the CCTV footage alone, there can be no doubt that on the evening of February 21 Glendon Spence was chased into the youth centre and there is no doubt that he was attacked there, that he was stabbed and as a result of those stab injuries he died.

"He was the victim of a swift and merciless attack."

Jonathan St Marie, who worked at the youth centre, was moved to tears when he told the court he saw two males armed with an 18 inches knives lunge towards Mr Spence.

Rishon Florant, 17, was convicted of murder by an Old Bailey jury

Chibuzo Ukonu was found guilty of manslaughter

He said Florant stepped towards Glendon and began stabbing down at him with the knife.

"I believe it was in his right hand. He was stabbing down towards where Glendon was lying.

"It began at the edge of the table. The second assailant attacked from a much further distance.

"From my position it appeared he tried to run around the table too quickly and just lost his footing.

"He fell onto his side. He rolled on his bum as if to get up at which point the assailant began thrusting at him.

"I believe it was in his right hand. He was stabbing down towards where Glendon was lying.

The clip shows the killers chasing Mr Spence at The Marcus Lipton Youth Centre in Brixton

"Glendon was on his back trying to us his feet to kick away at the knife that coming at him.

"His hand was going over the top towards Glendon's groin area."

He said Ukonu came around and lunged down towards Glendon's lower torso area.

Describing the weapons used in the attack, Mr St-Marie added: "I believe that it was around 12-18 inches long.

"The blade was black. In the centre of the knife was a black edging.

"It looked to be serrated on one edge. There looked to be one or two sharp points on the end of it.

The horror attack happened in front of terrified teenagers

"The other knife appeared to me to be dark grey rather than a black knife and quite long.

"It appeared to be of a similar length to first knife."

Florant was detained attempting to board a flight to Uganda, via Dubai, from Heathrow Airport the following day, while Okunu got on a coach to Manchester.

Okunu was arrested at an address in Salford on February 27.

Florant, of Peterborough Road, Leyton, east London, and Ukonu, of Loughton, Essex, both denied murder. Florant was convicted of murder while Ukonu was found guilty of the alternative of manslaughter.

They will be sentenced on 10 October.

DCI Richard Vandenbergh, said: "Youth clubs are expected to be a place of safety, a sanctuary for young people to be themselves and develop their skills and talents.

"The two males who burst in, each armed with large knives, turned that on its head with their actions which were sadly witnessed by so many other people. This attack was premeditated and this death underlines the vile nature of knife crime and the pain and terror it inflicts on communities.

Glendon Spence was stabbed to death at the Marcus Lipton Youth Centre in Brixton

"I would like to pay tribute to Glendon's family for their dignity with which they have carried themselves throughout proceedings.

"I would also like to thank the local community for their support and patience through the investigation.

"We endeavour to minimise the impact on witnesses following distressing incidents but we have a duty to the victims and their families in situations such as this, to collect evidence and investigate to the best of our abilities.

"I would also like to recognise the hard work and dedication of my investigation team who have worked tirelessly to piece together witness statements, forensic evidence and hours of CCTV footage against challenging timescales."

Source: mirror.co.uk