Hendon murder: Drill rapper who blamed identical twin jailed

Javell Hall will spend at least 19 years in prison

A drill rapper who tried to deflect the blame on to his identical twin after a new father was stabbed to death has been jailed.

DNA matching the profile of 18-year-old Javell Hall was found on the sheath of a knife used to murder Asante Campbell in north London, the Old Bailey heard.

Asked about the DNA, Hall said: "I never touched that knife. If it's not mine it must be [my twin brother's]."

He was given a life sentence, with a minimum prison term of 19 years.

Co-defendant Kofi Abusah, 19, received the same sentence for the rail worker's murder.

Mr Campbell was attacked by a group of males on an estate in Hendon on 29 February 2020. The jury was told that the reason for the stabbing remained a mystery.

The 24-year-old, who was stabbed through his car window, had been waiting to meet a colleague before setting off for a night shift.

Earlier, he had kissed his fiancée and baby daughter goodnight.

Asante Campbell "just loved helping people", his mum said

In a victim impact statement, Mr Campbell's mother Angela paid tribute to his "infectious presence" and charitable nature.

Mrs Campbell told the Old Bailey how he stepped in to play football with a lone boy in a park; supported the family of a suicidal girl; and even dropped a total stranger at the airport.

'Life shattered'

She said: "All this was done with a smile on his face, with him often saying: 'I just love helping people.'"

Mr Campbell and his "childhood sweetheart" fiancée shared a unique bond, his mother said.

Mr Campbell was found with stab wounds in Parson Street, Hendon

"Her life has been shattered and their exciting plans for the future crushed. Their lives [were] seemingly complete with the birth of their beautiful baby girl just weeks before he was taken - he absolutely doted on her."

The court heard how Hall had evaded arrest until June last year, travelling to Leeds and Manchester.

The rapper had a previous conviction for being in possession of a large combat knife in September 2016.

At the time of the murder, he was on court bail over an incident at a supermarket. Others went on to admit affray over what happened.