Four gangsters who killed man in an ambush jailed

Mahdi Mumin, Philip Jones, Khalfani Sinclair and Christian Braimah were sentenced for killing Naython Muir

Four men from a drugs gang with a reputation for "ruthless violence" have been jailed for killing a man in west London.

Naython Muir, 43, was stabbed with a zombie knife after being lured into an ambush in Hounslow last October on the pretence of buying drugs from him, jurors heard.

Mahdi Mumin, 24, from Slough, Khalfani Sinclair, 23, from Hayes, and Philip Jones, 48, from Feltham, were all handed life sentences for murder at the Old Bailey.

Mumin must serve a minimum of 24 years, Sinclair 22 years and Jones 20 years. Christian Braimah, 24, from West Drayton, was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter.

At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, a recorded message from the 11-year-old son of Naython Muir was played to the court.

The boy said: "Four cruel men took my Dad's life for no reason.

"I don't know why they did this as my Dad was a nice man.

Naython Muir's son described his father as a "nice man"

"This has made me feel angry and sad as I will not grow up with a Dad.

"All my friends talk about doing something with their Dad, but I can't say that I am too anymore."

Naython Muir's mother, Susan, read a statement to the court saying that her "caring, selfless" son had been "brutally murdered and stolen from our family".

"There are no words to describe the pain and heartache of the day Naython was taken from us," she said.

"They murdered him for their own selfish and personal gain. He never stood a chance."

Sentencing the four defendants, Judge Bate described the offence as a "targeted street knife attack which took Naython Muir by surprise".

The trial heard that although Mumin was not present at the stabbing he had played a "key role in organising and coordinating events" that were to culminate in the attack.

Mumin had a long standing background in drug dealing in London and was a "trusted and senior" member of a drugs gang that ran "The Gucci line" which had a reputation for "ruthless violence", said Judge Bate.

Sinclair, from Ashford, Surrey was the knife carrier and had described himself as "Gucci chef" - chef is slang for stabbing.

Sinclair and Jones had been picked up by Braimah and driven to Parkside Road where Sinclair had got out holding a "zombie killer" knife with a blade more than 40cm (about 15in) long.

Jones then acted as a "decoy" with his role being to "lure Mr Muir into a meeting".

'Fearsome knife'

He had made a number of calls to Mr Muir "no doubt as as customer looking to buy drugs" from Mr Muir, the trial heard.

Braimah acted as the driver and was ready to drive off after Naython Muir was stabbed.

Naython Muir was then stabbed in the leg by Sinclair with the "fearsome looking knife".

In mitigation for Mumin, Mark Harries KC said the defendant was still young, which "added to the tragedy" of the case overall.

He had not extricated himself from the world of drug dealing before it was "too late."

"For this defendant and some others their youth is now wasted," he said.

Jane Bickerstaff KC, representing Sinclair, described him as a "foot soldier" who was reacting to telephone calls he received and "doing as he was instructed".

Steven Perrian KC said Jones was exploited by the Gucci line due to his own drug addiction.

The men were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday

Det Ch Insp Brian Howie, who led the police investigation, said: “Naython, who was also known as ‘Nayff’, was a caring father, son and brother who had his own struggles in life.

“He was being used as a pawn by a drugs line to exert their control of drug supply within the Hounslow area."

He said Mr Muir sustained a "sudden, unprovoked, violent and ultimately fatal assault" with a zombie knife.

Det Ch Insp Howie added: "I would like to pay tribute to their strong family bond and determination in what was clearly a deeply traumatising time for them."