Dagenham man jailed for life for teenager’s murder

David Maxwell (Image: Archant)

Ronnie Atuqiya, of Second Avenue, and his co-defendant Chudi Hengari-Ajufo, of no fixed address, were both told they would serve a minimum of 16 years of their life sentences at the Old Bailey on Friday.

They had both been found guilty of murder at the same court on May 18.

During the trial, jurors heard how the pair stalked 18-year-old David Maxwell along a street in Southwark, at around 2.30pm on October 31 last year.

One of them pulled out a knife and stabbed David, who lived in Southwark, in the back.

Atuqiya, 21, and Hengari-Ajufo, 18, ran off as David collapsed onto the pavement.

Despite the best efforts of members of the public and London’s Air Ambulance, David died at the scene at 3.13pm.

Det Insp Nathan Eason, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This was a brutal and vicious attack in broad daylight on a teenager just walking down the street.

“Atuqiya was carrying at least one knife - he and his associate clearly intended to cause David very serious harm that day.

“It remains unclear what the motive for this attack was but I am pleased they have been convicted and will spend a long time behind bars.”