Ilford rappers murder: Four guilty of killing rappers in gang revenge

The two men died of stab and gunshot wounds at an address in Henley Road, Ilford

Four men have been found guilty of the revenge gang murder of two rappers who were shot and stabbed in east London.

Saydi Sheikh, 23, and Zakariya Mohamed, 31, were discovered fatally wounded at a house in Ilford, on 25 October 2022.

A third man caught up in the attack was shot in the head and "left for dead" while a fourth man managed to escape.

Zain Mirza, 21, of Newham, Ayaanle Ali Adan, 20, of Barking, Mahad Gouled, 22, of Enfield and Chibiuke Ohanweh, 21, of Romford had denied all the charges.

They were all convicted of two counts of murder and two of attempted murder.

Mirza, had "procured" the murders in revenge for the killing of his brother in 2019, the trial heard.

(Clockwise from top left) Ayaanle Ali Adan, Zain Mirza, Chibiuke Ohanweh and Mahad Gouled were all found guilty of murder and attempted murder

A fifth defendant, Zakarie Mohamad, 19, of Kensington, was cleared of those charges but had previously admitted perverting the course of justice by destroying a white Mitsubishi Outlander SUV along with the killers, who had used the vehicle.

The Old Bailey jury heard at least 41 shots had been fired in the house.

The "murderous attack" involved four men with firearms who had travelled to Henley Road, Ilford, in the white SUV, which had cloned registration plates, prosecutor John Price KC said.

The car was found burned out in nearby Ronnie Lane a few minutes after the attack, together with clothing in the back of the vehicle that helped police identify the gunmen.

Saydi Abu Sheikh, who rapped under the name Giddy, was one of the two victims

The trial heard that on 19 November 2019, the brother of Zain Mirza, Mohammed Usman Mirza, had been stabbed to death in Ilford.

Several men involved in that offence were convicted at the Old Bailey in 2021 and 2022 and at least some of the killers were associated with people shot at in Henley Road, the court heard.

• Men found in scene of bloody carnage, jury told

The court was told four pairs of tracksuit bottoms were recovered by police from the burned-out SUV as well as material from a burqa-type garment, which may have been worn as a disguise by the killers.

Scientific analysis found DNA from some of the defendants on at least one of the fabrics in the SUV.

And DNA from Ohanweh was discovered on a bullet casing found at Henley Road.

At trial, all the defendants except Gouled gave evidence in their defence and denied involvement in the murder.

Zain Mirza, Ayaanle Adan, Mahad Gouled, and Chibiuke Ohanweh, were also convicted of perverting the course of justice for setting fire to the car used in the attack.

Sentencing was adjourned until 23 January.

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