Four guilty of Andre Gayle murder
The father of six was stabbed nine times last August
Three people have been convicted of murdering a 29-year-old father of six in Bristol last year, with a fourth person previously admitting a charge of murder.
Andre Gayle was stabbed nine times during the attack in an alleyway close to Easton Community Centre in the early hours of Monday 31 August last year. He died at the Bristol Royal Infirmary two days later.
Rico Corbin and Tyan Finlayson, both 28 and of Speedwell, Jerome Lewis, 25 and from London, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons will be sentenced on 5 July.
A fifth man, aged 40, was found not guilty.
Detective Inspector Roger Doxsey, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Andre Gayle died in a senseless knife attack, which was carried out in front of a large crowd who’d gathered for a silent disco in the early hours of the late August Bank Holiday Monday.
“While the motive for this pre-planned attack on Andre has never been fully understood, the CCTV evidence is clear and unmistakeable. It has shown the investigation team and indeed the jury this was a savage, vicious and unrestrained attack on an unarmed man by a group of cowardly individuals who acted together, and who were prepared to use knives to achieve their objective.
“They showed a total disregard to other members of the public who were in the immediate vicinity, which included another innocent man who was repeatedly stabbed in a case of mistaken identity, but who thankfully survived his injuries.
“Our extensive investigation included 14 arrests, 583 statements taken, and 2,047 exhibits seized. CCTV was seized from 61 private premises and 31 local authority cameras which totalled more than 1,300 hours of footage.
"Too many parents are losing and have lost their sons"
“Owing to a comprehensive review of the evidence gathered during the course of our investigation, we determined that Jerome Lewis and Rico Corbin carried out the fatal attack on Andre, assisted and encouraged in this horrific act by those who have been jointly convicted of murder following the trial at Bristol Crown Court.
“A specialist family liaison officer has been supporting Andre’s devastated family and loved ones throughout and we’d like to pay tribute to the courage and dignity they’ve shown despite having to deal with this tragedy. We’d also like to thank all the witnesses who came forward, especially those who gave evidence during the trial.”
A statement from Andre’s mother reads: “My family is grief-stricken and struggling to come to terms with not only losing my son but also the brutality and senseless evil in the way they attacked and killed him; it was tantamount to a public execution.
“These men are fearless, remorseless and have shown total disregard for people in the community of Bristol and caused innocent bystanders to flee in terror at what was unfolding in front of them. During this trial we have had to watch CCTV footage of Andre’s last moments alive which has been harrowing, the pain is immeasurable.
“It is still hard to accept that he is gone and I personally don’t think I will ever be able to accept the loss. Too many parents are losing and have lost their sons and family members to this epidemic of knife crime and I want my grandchildren, Andre’s children, to be safe and have a future without these murderers walking amongst us.
"Not only have I lost a son, his children have also lost a father"
“We have now come together as a family to love, guide and support Andre’s children whose young lives have dramatically changes. We need time as a family to grieve properly and try to heal. I would like to thank everyone who has given and shown so much support, I couldn’t have got through this without them.”
A statement from Andre’s father reads: “Seeing my son lying in the hospital bed, completely motionless, being kept alive by machines – my boy, who had so much energy and spirit – his life taken from us. No parent should have to bury their son.
“My son, who is also a father, will never see his children grown up – not only have I lost a son, his children have also lost a father. Andre’s siblings, who too are devastated by his death, will never be able to have a relationship with him. So many lives destroyed by the hands of these vicious murderers.
“Taking these murderers off the street will not bring back my son, but it will prevent the suffering of another family and allow our kids to grow old and die naturally.”