Three men have been jailed for life after slashing a Sainsbury’s worker to death with machetes and knives as he left a shift.
The gang members lay in wait for Tobi Animashaun, 25, until he left for the evening, then were part of a group who laid into him with blades and bats.
He suffered stab wounds to the chest and stomach at the scene in south east London.
Antoin Gray, 22, Jeremiah Johnson, 23, and Codie Goodensimms, 22, were on Wednesday each sentenced to life in prison after an eight week trial at the Old Bailey.
The senseless killing came after a feud between rival local gangs – although the victim had working to make a new life for himself.
Reading his judgement, Judge Christopher Moss QC, told the convicts: “He didn’t stand a chance and was fatally wounded.
“You are all part of the gang culture we see on the streets.
“It is difficult to establish who was the person responsible for the attack, but you all shared the principal that the deceased should suffer grievous bodily harm.”
The three killers showed no emotion as they learned their fate.
Earlier, the trial heard how Johnson drove the other two defendants to the depot where their victim worked, and met two other cars as Animashaun finished his shift on September 11 last year.
Prosecutor John McGuinness, QC said: “Tobi Animashaun did his best to defend himself but he was unarmed.
“All he had on him was his backpack, which he tried to use as a shield, but he was hopelessly outnumbered.
“He was pursued into an alley and was stabbed a number of times.”
Jurors heard Johnson’s DNA was found on two pieces of a chain prosecutors say “broke off during the course of the attack’ at the murder scene.
“Mr Johnson habitually wore such a chain,” said Mr McGuinness.
Johnson admitted he was at the scene in Anchor and Hope Lane, Charlton, during the attack but had said he tried to “defuse the situation” when he saw Animashaun was unarmed.
Detective Sergeant Steve Keogh of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This case is all the more tragic as Tobi was on a new and positive path.
“He had got a job and was working to make a new life for himself, away from the pernicious influence of gang culture.
“Tobi was the victim of a planned attack that was savage, cowardly and remorseless. These men armed themselves with weapons, waited for Tobi, and then murdered him in front of horrified members of the public, who they also threatened.
“Tobi’s family has been left bereft by this wanton act of violence. These men have now been made to face the responsibly for their actions. They will face many years in prison to reflect on their violent actions of that day.”
London CPS reviewing lawyer Navnit Dosanjh said: “Part of a chain from Johnson’s neck was found at the scene with his DNA on it, Gray was identified among the armed group by an eye-witness. Goodensimms was identified as travelling to the murder scene with the other two men.
“This would have been an extremely disturbing attack for members of the public, some of whom were threatened with weapons when they tried to go to Mr Animashaun’s aid.
“Three dangerous men will now spend a significant time behind bars. We hope these convictions bring some sense of comfort to Mr Animashaun’s family.”
Gray, Johnson, and Goodensimms were each jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.
