A thug is facing a life sentence for the murder of an innocent aspiring fashion designer who was beaten to death by a mob armed with bats, clubs and knives.
Allan Kalema, 20, was one of up to 20 masked youths of the “Busy Block” gang which attacked 21-year-old painter and decorator Andrew Jaipaul. Mr Jaipaul was chased into a children’s play area and knifed 25 times in the head, chest and legs.
He had no known gang connections and the Old Bailey heard he was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The gang from Archway were trying to get revenge on rivals in the “Wray Kray” and “Crouch Hall” gangs from Holloway. They were caught on CCTV marching towards the scene of the killing in Corker Walk, Holloway, with their faces disguised by masks and scarves.
The “Busy Block” had vowed revenge after one of their members, Michael Munza, was stabbed in the buttocks by members of the rival gangs.
Kalema was convicted of murdering Mr Jaipaul in the savage attack in June 2011. He will be jailed for life when sentenced on Friday.
Kalema is the sixth person to be convicted of the killing, the others are currently serving life sentences. Another member of the gang, Tony Walker, 20, was cleared of murder yesterday (tues) but found guilty of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
Two court heard how residents in Holloway, north London, saw a stampede of youths entering the notorious Andover Estate. They reported that the gang were armed with weapons including pieces of wood, a baseball bat and a metal pole.
Mr Jaipaul was walking through the estate to his home in Birnam Road at around 10pm when he was confronted.
The gang heard cheering and chanting “Busy Block” as they fled after the attack.
