Four Men Locked Up for 79 Years Over Brutal Tottenham Murder
Four men were sentenced to a combined 79 years behind bars for the savage killing of 17-year-old Tyler McDermott and the attempted murder of his friend in Tottenham.
The chilling attack happened outside a music studio on Norman Road in the early hours of April 13, 2023. Tyler and his friend had just left when tempers flared after one of the accused took offence at being filmed inside.
Shot, Stabbed, and Left to Die
Tyrese Barnett, 20, shot Tyler dead and tried to kill his friend, who miraculously escaped. As Tyler lay wounded, Leo Reid, 21, viciously attacked him with a machete.
“Nothing will bring Tyler back, but I hope the sentences handed down to these individuals will help provide his friends and family with some form of closure,” said Detective Inspector Devan Taylor of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
Harsh Sentences Handed Down at Old Bailey
- Tyrese Barnett, 20, of Moyers Road, Newham – Life with a minimum of 30 years for murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
- Leo Reid, 21, of Tulse Hill, Lambeth – Life with at least 22 years for murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
- Rhys Antwi, 20, of Prentis Road, Lambeth – Life with a minimum of 14 years for murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
- Kalam Bagge, 19, of Nimrod Road, Lambeth – Life with at least 13 years for murder.
Crucial CCTV Footage and Evidence Seal the Case
Police pieced together the case through CCTV and forensic evidence, exposing how Antwi and Bagge, although not delivering fatal blows, encouraged and aided the attackers.
The trial revealed a terrifying escalation in violence, with weapons such as a firearm, sword, and knife brought to the scene. Tyler’s heartbreaking death starkly highlights the deadly cost of violent crime on London’s streets.
