On the evening of April 1, 2024, the quiet streets of Barons Court, West London, were shattered by a crime so meticulously orchestrated that it sent ripples through the city and beyond. Twenty-one-year-old Janayo Lucima, an aspiring music producer with a complicated past, was shot dead at his own doorstep in what police and prosecutors have described as a “planned and organised execution.” Six young men, including a 17-year-old boy, have now been sentenced to life in prison for their roles in this chilling murder, which a judge called an example of “joint responsibility” and a warning to others involved in violent crime.
The trial, which concluded at the Old Bailey on July 16, 2025, laid bare the details of a killing rooted in a bitter drugs dispute. According to BBC News and The Irish News, Janayo Lucima was lured outside his home on Comeragh Road by Khuder Al Kurdi, 22, who pretended to arrange a drug deal. Unbeknownst to Lucima, Mohamed Mansaray, then just 18, was waiting in the shadows with a loaded handgun, backed up by others armed with knives. As soon as Lucima stepped out, Mansaray fired a single, fatal shot to his chest. The group fled the scene, discarding weapons that were later linked to them through forensic analysis. Some even attempted to leave the UK, but Metropolitan Police detectives tracked them down and brought them to justice.
The six convicted—Al Kurdi, Mansaray, Muktar Said (24), Issa Siteri (19), Yusuf Muhudin Abdi (19), and the 17-year-old boy—were handed life sentences on September 5, 2025. The minimum terms ranged from 22 years for the youngest, to 33 years for Al Kurdi, whom Judge Simon Mayo KC described as having a “pivotal role” in orchestrating the murder. A retrial is scheduled for two other defendants after the jury failed to reach verdicts in their cases.
“This was not a random killing,” Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie from Scotland Yard told PA News Agency. “The defendants planned their actions meticulously and came with murderous intent, armed not only with a handgun but also with knives. They gave Janayo no chance to defend himself, executing him ruthlessly as he stepped out of the front door.” He added, “We still don’t know the real reason they were after Janayo, because none of them gave a truthful explanation of why he had to be killed on that day, on that time, and in such a horrific manner.”
For Janayo Lucima’s family, the pain is unending. His mother, Winifred Ayo, delivered a series of powerful victim impact statements during the sentencing. Addressing the court, she said, “I miss my son and think about him all the time. I miss his hugs. I miss his smell. I miss his laughs. I miss his perfect smile. Janayo was full of dreams. But he was heartlessly taken away from us by a group of self-centred young men, steeped in an urban sub-culture of violence. The loss, pain and void they created in our hearts will never heal. No amount of sentence will bring Janayo back.”
In another emotional address directed at the defendants, she said, “You chose the time, the date, to execute your plans. Everyone had a role. You prepared for the moment. When I watch the CCTV a few minutes before you executed my son, it was like something from a movie. Mansaray, you even practised your target while the others lay in wait. When the time came, you did not hesitate.” She continued, “You did not just take our son’s life that night, you also took ours. I miss his laugh, I miss his perfect smile. I miss his singing. Janayo loved music, even classical music. He would play the violin and piano. Janayo was full of dreams even though he had not figured out how to accomplish them. But he was heartlessly taken away from us by self-centred young men steeped in a sub-culture of violence with complete disregard for human life.”
Janayo Lucima’s story is a complicated one. According to The Irish News, he had been released from jail a year before his murder after being convicted of perverting the course of justice in the notorious 2021 case involving jazz musician William Algar. Then aged 19, Lucima admitted to running a drugs line from Algar’s property and helping to cover up the crime. But those close to him say he was trying to turn his life around. His mother described him as a former choirboy and karate black belt, passionate about music, and “not a violent person.” She told PA News Agency, “He was always singing, making music demo tapes at home on the piano. He was kind and he just loved me, and then he loved life. And he should still be here.”
The trial, which lasted five months, was a harrowing ordeal for the Lucima family. Judge Simon Mayo KC commended their “remarkable dignity and composure,” apologizing for the “bravado” displayed by the defendants, who reportedly smiled and laughed as they were sentenced. The judge’s words echoed the sentiments of many who followed the case, as the details of the killing and the defendants’ attitudes in court shocked the public.
Detective Chief Inspector Howie emphasized the collective culpability of the group. “It doesn’t matter they’re young, it doesn’t matter their backgrounds. What matters is they all worked as a group with murderous intent that evening to kill Janayo,” he said. “It should be a warning to everyone out there. If you’re going to be involved in this kind of criminality, it doesn’t matter that you’re not the person killing them. If you played your part, if you’ve encouraged, if you participated, if you back them up, you will be convicted of murder and hopefully the lengthy sentence will also show as a warning to other individuals involved in these kind of horrific violent attacks.”
The wider context of this case is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles with youth violence and drug-related disputes in London. As BBC News reported, the murder of Janayo Lucima was not just a personal tragedy but a symptom of a “sub-culture of violence” that continues to claim young lives. The case has reignited debate about how best to address the root causes of such violence—be it through policing, community intervention, or support for at-risk youth. While the sentences handed down may bring some measure of justice, for Lucima’s family and the community, the scars remain.
As the city reflects on the events that led to Janayo Lucima’s death, questions linger about what more can be done to prevent such tragedies. For now, the hope is that the lengthy sentences and the public attention surrounding the case will serve as a deterrent, and that the memory of a young man full of dreams will not be forgotten.
