Drug Dealer Jailed for Life Over Brutal Stabbing
Raekwon Hanniford-Brown, 23, of Rossiter Road, SW12, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, 21 July. He must serve at least 19 years behind bars for the savage murder of Errol McKay.
Fatal Fight Over Drug Deal Turns Deadly
The court heard the chilling story of how the two men, once on friendly terms, fell out fatally. Errol, a drug user, had allowed Hanniford-Brown to stash drugs in his flat on Trinity Crescent. In return, Hanniford-Brown supplied him with crack cocaine.
But shortly after midnight on 27 July 2022, the pair argued over keys to the flat. The spat quickly turned violent, ending with Errol stabbed 24 times in an attack described as “frenzied” by police. Despite paramedics’ efforts, Errol died at the scene.
Cold-Blooded Killer Tried to Flee the Country
After the attack, Hanniford-Brown ordered Errol’s friend to call an ambulance and bandage the wounds. Then he moved the drugs safe, ditched the bloody knife, and cycled away. Just hours later, he was caught at Gatwick Airport attempting to flee to Paris.
Forensics revealed extensive bloodstains throughout the flat – from the lounge where the stabbing took place to the kitchen where someone tried to wash their hands. A bloody handprint matching Hanniford-Brown’s was also found in the bedroom.
Detective Slams Killer’s ‘Lies’ About Self-Defence
“Hanniford-Brown claimed self-defence and said he has PTSD and a phobia of knives,” said Detective Chief Inspector Laura Semple of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. “But the extreme violence – 24 stab wounds causing catastrophic injuries – plus his actions after the attack tell a different story. This was a brutal, savage murder, not self-defence.”
Family Speak Out: ‘Errol Was a Loving Son Taken Too Soon’
“Errol was the youngest of nine children, a humble, funny and affectionate man who prioritized family,” said a family spokesperson. “He was kind-hearted and generous beyond his own family, always ready to help friends and those in need.”
“This man took Errol’s life and tried to run away. Some of us have forgiven, others cannot. Errol was taken too soon but leaves behind a legacy of love.”
