A KNIFE obsessed teen who hacked a young student to death with a ‘Zombie
Killer’ machete has been convicted of manslaughter.
Blaise Lewinson, 17, will serve a minimum of nine years for killing Stefan
Appleton, 17, while he was playing in a park in Islington, North London last
year.
Lewinson arrived at the playground on a ‘bright and sunny’ June evening on a
stolen moped and chased the teenage victim on foot before striking him
several times while he lay on the ground.
The assailant reportedly shouted “RP” as he fled which is believed to refer to
the local ‘Red Pitch’ gang who were in conflict with another gang in the
Nightingale Park area where the attack took place.
Lewinson, who has a previous conviction for possession of a lock knife, is
said to have a long held fascination with illegal knives and had just
completed the Met’s ‘Knife Crime Prevention Programme’ before the attack
took place.
The defendant was granted anonymity during the trial but that was lifted today
because his identity was already widely known in the Islington area.
Judge Richard Hone QC said: “I recognise and accept that the jury found you
guilty of manslaughter rather than murder and so they could only be sure
that you intended something less than really serious harm with that fearsome
Zombie Killer knife that you took to Nightingale Park.
“The use of this utterly ferocious weapon, even with the reduced intent,
caused the loss of Stefan Appleton’s young life.
“He was plainly unarmed and you stabbed him on the ground while he was
defending himself. You received no injury yourself of any kind.”
Lewinson, who was acquitted of murder along with another 17-year-old, was
found guilty of manslaughter after the jury deliberated for 14 hours.
The other co-defendant teenager was acquitted of conspiracy to cause grievous
bodily harm with intent.
After the killing Lewinson set the stolen moped on fire and burned his clothes.
He gave his helmet to his girlfriend and later reportedly tried to persuade
her to give false evidence in court.
The attacker then fled to Bristol and tried to fly to Malaga, Spain but could
not afford the flights.
Judge Hone said his conduct showed “cunning and careful planning”.
Defending Lewinson, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC, said: “He’s a young man and
this loss of life create in him a feeling that he says no words in the
dictionary would be able to describe – it’s an indication of how strongly he
feels about this matter.’
Bennet-Jenkins argued that the prosecution had “mis-represented the facts” as
there was no proof that Lewinson was a gang member.
She said: “The verdict was one that he did not intend to kill and did not
intend to cause serious bodily harm.”
She opposed lifting the reporting restriction, as it may leave his family and
younger brother open to revenge attacks.
Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said: “This is a case that has attracted both
local and national media attention because of the weapon used.”
He added that Lewinson’s identity, and that of his family, was already widely
known in Islington, and they have not been the victims on any reprise
attacks.
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This case has led to fresh calls for a ban on ‘zombie’ knives with Home
Secretary Theresa May announcing plans to prohibit their sale, manufacture
and importation.
The knives can be purchased for as little as £5 and have long serrated blades
and distinctive green handles.
Mr Denison said Stefan’s death was “another tragic waste of a young life in
this city taken by a knife.”
He told the court how the killer arrived at the playground wearing a hood and
a balaclava brandishing the knife.
Lewinson then chased Stefan before the victim tripped on a low fence and fell
to the ground.
The 17-year-old was struck by Lewinson, then 16, several times with the fatal
blow piercing the left side of his chest, passing through his lungs and into
his heart.
Stefan was able to get up and run away a short distance before collapsing and
later dying in hospital at 7:45pm that evening.
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