Notting Hill Carnival zombie knife attacker jailed for 18 years
Tuitt was caught carrying a Rambo knife which he swung out at Notting Hill Carnival the year before, although no-one was injured, the Old Bailey heard.
He was serving a community order for that offence when he attacked Mr Spooner in front of a crowd of revellers.
The defendant, from Walthamstow, east London, was found guilty of attempted murder having admitted possession of a knife.
Jailing him for 18 years on Friday, Judge Judy Khan KC said: 'It is not the first time you have travelled to the carnival armed with a fearsome weapon.
'On this occasion, you used it to devastating effect. It is fortunate Mr Spooner escaped with his life.
'There can be no excuse for committing an offence of this gravity.'
The attack was in front of a 'substantial number' of people and lunging out with a knife in a crowded public place put others at risk of being injured, she said.
Previously, prosecutor Mark Paltenghi had said the two young men did not know each other before their paths crossed in Canal Way, west London, just before 8pm.
During the attack, Tuitt had 'sliced open Mr Spooner's stomach with a 12-inch zombie knife' and then stabbed him four more times in the side and back and cut his right forearm.
The knife used by Rumarni Tuitt in the attack (Met Police/PA)
Mr Spooner told police he spent much of the day at the carnival drinking with his friends.
Towards the end of the day, a fight broke out around him with three people close by throwing punches, according to his account.
Mr Paltenghi had said: 'He then recalls being hit in the back and upon looking at his arm, saw it had been cut, then looked down and saw that his intestines were hanging out.
'He put his hand over them and just ran.
'He cannot cast any light on why it was he would have been attacked.'
Tuitt claimed that he was acting in self defence and jurors were told there was no evidence he harboured a grievance against Mr Spooner.
In mitigation, Sheryl Nwosu said the defendant's young age, immaturity and neurodivergeance had affected his actions.
He had displayed 'impulsive and reckless' decision making by choosing to attend Notting Hill Carnival armed with a weapon out of a 'perceived need for self protection', Ms Nwosu said.
As Tuitt was being sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, a woman in the public gallery broke down in tears.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Burglars steal £500,000 of jewellery from south-east London home
Raiders have stolen £500,000 of jewellery from a home in south-east London, the Metropolitan Police said. The items, which included treasured family heirlooms, were taken from a house in Bickley Road, Bromley, on the evening of Monday December 30 2024. Detective Constable Jamie White, of the Met's South Area Command Unit, described the monetary value of the theft as 'enormous' but 'the sentimental value is priceless'. Police are looking for three men who forced their way in through a bathroom window while the owners were out. They entered the address at 5.40pm and left at 6.25pm. Police have released images of a number of the stolen items in an effort to trace them. Dc White said: 'While the monetary value of this theft is enormous, the sentimental value is priceless – with many of the pieces being passed down through generations of the family. 'Helpfully, a number of the pieces stolen are unique, so we are hoping that releasing these photographs will jog someone's memory.' Anyone who may have seen the items or who knows of anyone handling the goods is asked to get in touch with the Met via 101, quoting 01/1257889/24. They can also speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Leader Live
39 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Self-confessed robber admits picking up gunman who shot girl in head
The young victim was eating dinner with her family when the rider of a Ducati Monster motorbike fired six shots outside Evin restaurant in Kingsland High Street in Dalston, east London, on May 29 last year. A bullet lodged in the girl's brain and three men sitting an another table were wounded in the thigh, leg and backbone, the Old Bailey has heard. Javon Riley allegedly picked up the gunman nearby in a stolen Nissan Juke on false plates before transferring to a Range Rover in north London, the Old Bailey has heard. The 33-year-old defendant is also accused of carrying out reconnaissance before the shooting and helping the gunman evade arrest. Giving evidence on Thursday, Riley admitted being involved in various lucrative crimes but denied knowing anything about the shooting. Defence barrister Tyrone Smith KC asked: 'Do you accept the evidence shows you on 29th May drove the gunman from Colvestone Crescent shortly after he had shot and injured three men and a young girl?' The defendant replied: 'Yes.' Mr Smith went on: 'At the time did you know he had shot those people at the restaurant?' Riley replied: 'No.' Mr Smith said: 'Were you part of a plan or agreement that a shooting take place that night?' Riley, who grew up in Walthamstow after emigrating from Jamaica as a boy, denied it. He told jurors that he had left college at the age of 18 and had three children with two different partners, as well as at least four other girlfriends or 'friends with benefits' living around London. Riley said he had set up his own delivery business, had an interest in a clothes brand with friends, and made money from 'various stuff of criminality'. The court heard Riley has a string of convictions dating back to 2008 including for possession of cannabis and cocaine, driving offences, and having an offensive weapon and a blade in his car. In addition, the defendant said he had been involved with stealing cars, drug dealing and robberies, although he had never been caught for those offences. He said he began taking cars 'for fun' at the age of 15, going on to steal them to order and shipping them abroad. He picked drug dealers to rob because the money could not be traced and the victims were unlikely to go to police, jurors heard. Mr Smith asked: 'What would be the consequences if a drug dealer identified you as someone who had robbed them?' Riley replied: 'My life would be in danger.' The defendant said he would carry out between two and five robberies a month, sometimes working with others, and would make anything from £30,000 to more than £200,000. Asked about his role in the robberies, Riley said: 'Sometimes I'm the driver or the muscle.' The defendant said that although he would sometimes carry a knife, he would never be armed with a gun because it was too risky and he would go 'straight to jail' if caught. Riley told jurors he would sometimes sell on drugs he had stolen from dealers. The prosecution has alleged the shooting was a 'planned assassination' amid an ongoing dispute between rival gangs, the Tottenham Turks and the Hackney Turks, also known as the 'Bombacilars'. Men seated outside the restaurant had affiliations towards the Hackney Turks and the ones who had ordered the shooting were from the Tottenham Turks, it is claimed. Riley, from Tottenham, north London, has denied attempted murder together with others and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the girl, who cannot be named because of her age. The Old Bailey trial continues.
Wales Online
40 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Three died in crash after motorist, 81, pressed accelerator in error
Three died in crash after motorist, 81, pressed accelerator in error Stephen Burch and Katherine Burch, both 65, both died at the scene after suffering multiple injuries in the crash on August 28, 2024. Humphrey Pickering, who lost control of his car, also died in the tragic incident. Reverend Stephen Burch and his wife Katherine, who died in a crash in Beaumaris, Anglesey, on August 28, 2024 (Image: PA) An 81-year-old motorist pressed his accelerator pedal 'in error' and hit a retired couple at high speed, an inquest has heard. Stephen Burch and Katherine Burch, both 65, had no time to react as Humphrey Pickering failed to negotiate a sharp bend and lost control of his powerful Audi A8 automatic car. The former vicar and charity worker, from Alcester, Warwickshire, both suffered multiple injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision in the popular North Wales seaside town Beaumaris. Ex-librarian Mr Pickering, from Colwyn Bay, also died at the scene in Alma Street, as his car went on to collide with the front of a house on the afternoon of August 28 last year. He was not wearing his seat-belt and sustained fatal chest injuries. Caernarfon Coroner's Court heard that Mr Pickering had earlier tried to pull slowly out of a tight parking space off the seafront near to the Bulkeley Hotel, to allow enough room for his wife, Margaret, to get into the vehicle's passenger side. An eyewitness told the court the grey Audi suddenly 'lurched forward' and the driver 'appeared to panic' before the car 'shot off down the road'. CCTV footage showed the Audi initially accelerate 'abruptly' into a group of four pedestrians, knocking down two people who escaped with minor injuries. Meilir Hywel, forensic collision investigator for North Wales Police, said Mr Pickering's car continued to accelerate on Alma Street and narrowly missed colliding with two vehicles. Mr Pickering then lost control of the Audi on a 90 degrees right bend. Pre-crash data recovered from the vehicle showed the accelerator pedal was repeatedly pressed and the brake pedal was not activated. The Audi reached a speed of 55mph, in a 20mph zone, in the seconds before the collision, the court heard. Mr Hywel concluded the sudden acceleration was because of 'pedal misapplication in applying the accelerator instead of the brake pedal in error'. He said: 'He was then unable to correct his error while driving a powerful vehicle.' One of Mr and Mrs Burch's three children, Sarah Packwood, told the inquest her parents were both of 'deep Christian faith'. Her mother was a talented musician and baker who 'always put others first' and was 'passionate about serving her community', while her father 'actively shared his faith throughout his life' and was an 'avid sports fan'. She said her family has raised concerns about the age of Mr Pickering and his ability to drive a brand new powerful vehicle. Mr Pickering's daughter, Helen Baxter, said the father-of-two was an 'active member of the community' who was 'out in the garden every day in all weathers' and had 'good' mental agility. She said Mr Pickering was a librarian in Oldham before he set up his own business in automated library services, which led to him working around the world. She said he had five holidays booked for 2024 'which was normal for him as he loved to travel'. Why we cover inquests – and why it's so important that we do As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives. The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of open justice. It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death. But, most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening. Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system is not held to account. Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide. Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one. Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected. However, as has been seen by many powerful media campaigns, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others. Without the attendance of the press at inquests questions will remain unanswered and lives will be lost. Article continues below Senior coroner for north-west Wales, Kate Robertson, said she was satisfied the 'most likely explanation' for the collision was the 'pedal misapplication which has led to a sudden and unintended acceleration'. She told both families: 'There are no words that I can say that will ease the pain and suffering you will no doubt be feeling, have felt and will continue to feel, but you have all acted with huge dignity. 'I am incredibly sorry for your loss in these tragic circumstances.'
