Four men have received more than 70 years’ imprisonment following the death of a victim during a Dartford robbery.
In 2022, Emmanuel Nkrumah-Buansi, Jacob Afolabi and Habib Kanu planned to rob people using information supplied by Lee Garrard.
At around 7.15pm on 2 April 2022, Nkrumah-Buansi and Afolabi arranged to meet a 22-year-old man near Mallard Close. They approached their target who was sitting in a car and, during their attempt to rob him, Nkrumah-Buansi stabbed the victim. They then fled the area and despite medical assistance, the man died at the scene.
Arrests
An investigation was carried out by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate and both men were identified as being involved and arrested. Further enquiries linked Garrard to them through phone messages and he was also detained.
Detectives also proved Nkrumah-Buansi, Afolabi, along with Kanu had taken part in an earlier robbery in Dartford on 25 March. That incident left a man suffering wounds to his left hand and back. Kanu was subsequently detained after the arrest of the other three.
The Crown Prosecution Service later authorised a charge of murder against Afolabi and Nkrumah-Buansi. They were also charged with conspiracy to rob and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, along with Garrard and Kanu.
At Woolwich Crown Court, Nkrumah-Buansi, from Bexleyheath and Afolabi, from Dartford both denied murder. On 20 January 2023, a jury found them both guilty of manslaughter.
All four men were convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent. Kanu, from Maidstone and Afolabi were also convicted of conspiracy to rob. Nkrumah-Buansi and Garrard, from Dartford had pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing
They were all sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday 5 June.
The judge jailed 39-year-old Nkrumah-Buansi for 21 years. When he is released he will be subject to an extended licence period of five years.
Afolabi, aged 27, received 21 years‘ imprisonment and when he is released he will be subject to an extended licence period of three years.
Both Nkrumah-Buansi and Afolabi will have to serve 14 years before being eligible for parole.
Kanu, aged 34, was sentenced to 14 years‘ imprisonment. When he is released he will be subject to an extended licence period of three years.
Garrard, aged 31, received 11 years and eight months’ imprisonment.
Kanu is required to serve nine years and four months and Garrard almost eight years before they are eligible for parole.
Investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kathleen Way of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: ‘These four men have shown no remorse for their actions and involvement in these violent incidents. They were motivated by greed and had no hesitation in arming themselves with weapons in order to inflict serious injury to ensure they were successful.
‘Their plan only ended when one young man senselessly lost his life. This was a brazen attack which happened in a small community, which caused considerable fear and anxiety. I’m pleased the jury has found them guilty of their crimes and that they have been sentenced accordingly.’