Laughing gang jailed for DLR killing

Three gang members who laughed as a train crushed a commuter to death were today jailed for a total of 13.5 years.

The Bengali youths, members of the Shadwell Massive, grinned broadly as they were sentenced after being convicted of manslaughter for stopping their victim climbing to safety.

One of the thugs, Manchester-born Mohammed Islam, 20, has a history of gang violence. Victim Vicente Delgado was attacked and knocked onto the tracks at the Shadwell Docklands Light Railway station after he asked for a cigarette. As he desperately tried to scramble to safety the gang kicked him back down.

Mr Delgado, 29, a Portuguese national who was in Britain to study computers, had his leg sliced off and suffered severe head injuries and massive internal bleeding.

Islam, Abdul Shohid and Mokul Hussain, both 21, were each convicted of Mr Delgado's manslaughter and for wounding his friend Eddis Filho, 23, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Shohid was sentenced to four years' detention and Hussain four-and-half years. Islam was locked up for five years.

The court heard that in November 1999 he was given a conditional discharge for joining a mob of 20 Asians chasing a 22-year-old white man.

During the incident, Islam spat at a police officer who had intervened. He was fined £50 one year later for using abusive words and threatening behaviour towards a police officer.

The defendants, all from the Stepney, admitted being on the platform but denied having any part in the violence on 7 March last year.