Gunman who shot dead victim in revenge attack hours after friend was stabbed jailed

A man has been jailed for shooting dead his victim in south London in a revenge attack after his friend was stabbed.

Denzel Kwateng, 22, from New Addington, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Tyrese Miller.

He was sentenced at the Old Bailey to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 16 years.

Kwateng was also found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and perverting the course of justice.

The court heard that 22-year-old Tyrese had been gunned down in Mitcham at roughly 2.15am on 4 April 2023.

The killing took place hours after his friend had been stabbed in Croydon, shortly before midnight on 3 April 2023.

Cheick Cisse, 29, of Thornton Heath and Mario Serban, 18, of Eltham, were found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life after police arrested them in possession of the shotgun used in the shooting.

Cisse was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and Serban was given an 18-month youth rehabilitation order.

The pair were stopped in a taxi by police.

Officers found a shotgun and cartridges in a bag that detectives had established Kwateng had been carrying on the morning of the shooting, the court heard.

Officers searched the pair, and Serban was found to be in possession of a machete while Cisse was carrying a lock knife.

Forensic analysis of the bag revealed a match for Kwateng’s DNA. Kwateng later admitted being in possession of the gun but claimed it fired accidentally, fatally shooting Tyrese.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley led the investigation said after the sentencing on Wednesday : “This investigation has painstakingly gathered evidence to put the defendants before the court.

“My team has carefully pieced together their various movement, using CCTV and other footage along with forensic material and data obtained from mobile devices to cross-check how events unfolded that evening.

“I have spoken with Tyrese’s family and, although the trial has not provided them with the complete picture that they had wished for, I have expressed my sincere hope that they can obtain some degree of comfort from the sentences handed down today.”

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