Gunman Gets Life for Chilling Double Murder in Family Home
Obina Ezeoke, 28, was handed a life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 1 October, for the cold-blooded murders of Annie Ekofo, 53, and her 21-year-old nephew, Bervil Kalikaka-Ekofo. He must serve at least 40 years behind bars.
Ezeoke was convicted just weeks earlier, on 9 September.
Brutal Morning Attack in London Home
The horror unfolded in the early hours of 15 September 2016, when London Ambulance Service alerted police to two shooting victims at an Elmshurst Crescent address in N2 around 6:20am.
- Officers found Annie and Bervil with fatal gunshot wounds, and despite desperate attempts, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
- Four others inside, including an eight-year-old child, miraculously escaped unharmed.
The trial revealed chilling details of the attack. Ezeoke waited outside the main block’s communal door before entering Annie’s unlocked front door. He shot Bervil in the back of the head as he slept, then gunned down Annie, who had been woken by the noise.
He fled the scene, leaving devastation in his wake.
Met Police Crack Case with CCTV & Forensics
The Met’s Specialist Crime Command pieced the case together through CCTV and forensic evidence. A black Vauxhall Meriva was caught on camera arriving and leaving just ten minutes after the shootings.
- The car journeyed from the Grahame Park Estate in Colindale, where Ezeoke was tracked before and after the murders.
- Gunshot residue was found on the car, the white polo shirt Ezeoke wore, his clothing, and even in his hair.
- The vehicle was registered under false names and addresses, linking it directly to Ezeoke.
He was arrested on 18 September and charged with both murders two days later. A search of his home uncovered a handgun case and parking tickets tying him to the crime vehicle.
Mistaken Identity & Revenge Motive
Tragically, neither Annie nor Bervil were the intended targets. Detectives believe the real target was a relative caught in a long-standing feud with Ezeoke and his associates.
Bervil, a University of West London student, was only staying overnight at Annie’s house.
The shooting was reportedly retaliation for a brutal stabbing Ezeoke suffered in October 2015, which left him fighting for life in hospital for six weeks. Released from prison in April 2016 after a drug offence, Ezeoke plunged back into violence.
Detective Chief Inspector Garry Moncrieff said: “Annie and Bervil were brutally gunned down in what should have been the safety of their family home. They were innocent victims, caught in the crossfire of escalating gang violence.”
“This devastating double murder has ripped families apart. We hope the guilty verdict brings some comfort. Our message is clear: firearms on London streets will not be tolerated. We will hunt down offenders and make sure they face tough sentences.”
