Teen Found Guilty of Murder After Gang Robbery Turns Deadly in Haringey
A 16-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a shocking gang robbery in a London park, a jury at the Old Bailey heard this week.
Stabbing Turns Fatal at Lordship Lane Recreation Ground
Stelios Averkiou was attacked while sitting on a bench with friends in Lordship Lane Recreation Ground in the summer of 2021. When the defendants tried to rob the group, Stelios stood up to them and was stabbed in the leg.
Kyi-Reice Sylvester, 18, from Cheshunt, was found guilty of murder. He had already pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery. His co-defendant, Leon Gruber, 18, from Amersham Avenue, was acquitted of murder but admitted to four robberies.
Brutal Attack in Broad Daylight
On August 1, 2021, Sylvester and Gruber approached Stelios and his friends, questioned them about gang affiliations, then launched their robbery. Sylvester, armed with a large knife, stabbed Stelios in the thigh.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at 2:09 pm. Officers found Stelios bleeding heavily from a large wound. They applied a tourniquet and London’s Air Ambulance medics performed emergency surgery on site. Despite these heroic efforts, Stelios sadly died in hospital days later without regaining consciousness.
Police Praise Community Support as Justice Is Served
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson said: “It is wholly right that the defendants are not permitted to remain among the community where they steal and threaten safety. I am confident their sentences will reflect the gravity of their crimes.”
“Tragically, another young life has been cut short by people who carry knives… I hope his loved ones find comfort in this verdict.”
Stelios’s mother, Maria Averkiou, spoke softly of her heartbreak: “My family has been ripped apart by senseless violence. Stelios was doing nothing wrong. Our hearts are broken.”
Detective Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh added: “This was a completely senseless killing. Knife crime remains a top priority for the Met, and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice.”
Next Steps
Both Sylvester and Gruber are remanded in custody. Sentencing will take place at the Old Bailey in January 2023. The community hopes this verdict sends a strong message against knife crime and gang violence in the capital.
