Six men have been found guilty of the murder of 17-year-old Michael Jonas, who was lured to his death in a Bromley park. The conviction came after extensive investigation, including CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking the defendants to the crime.
Despite the charges being dropped against all six men in 2018, detectives remained committed to seeking justice for Michael and his grieving family. Their unwavering dedication led to the reopening of the case and the subsequent conviction of the perpetrators.
The convicted individuals are Nyron Jean Baptiste, Divon Henry-Campbell, Jason Smith, Jamie Marshall, Ryan Girense Brown, and Sarraviho Smith. They will be sentenced on Monday, 20 November. Each of them played a role in the violent and premeditated attack that claimed Michael’s life.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command, expressed his sympathy for Michael’s family and emphasised the importance of holding the defendants accountable. He stated, “This has been a long and complex investigation, but we were determined to keep fighting for justice, and we are pleased that these men will now be off the streets of London and unable to cause further harm.”
The incident occurred on 2 November 2017 when police responded to a report of a man injured in Betts Park, Bromley. Upon arrival, they found Michael suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite the efforts of the authorities and the London Ambulance Service, Michael tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation began immediately, with detectives collecting substantial CCTV footage from the park and its surroundings. The evidence revealed that Michael had been approached by five members of the group as he walked along Anerley Road. They then proceeded to enter the park together.
At 19:12, Jean-Baptiste arrived at the scene, prompted by a call from Henry-Campbell, as later determined through phone analysis. Just three minutes later, at 19:15, all of the defendants were seen fleeing the park on bicycles. The entire attack had taken no more than two minutes.
Forensic analysis of bloodstains found at the scene revealed DNA matching Jean-Baptiste, making it one billion times more likely to be his than from an unrelated individual. Despite this damning evidence, none of the defendants admitted responsibility or provided a motive for their actions. It was revealed during the trial that they believed Michael to be a “snitch,” leading them to carry out the fatal attack.
Although the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case in early 2019, diligent police work and the accumulation of further evidence ultimately led to the reinstatement of charges in October 2022. The defendants were subsequently remanded until the trial, which resulted in their conviction.
The sentencing of the six men will take place on Monday, 20 November.
