[E]leven people have been jailed for a total of 168 years after Abdul Hafidah was murdered in Moss Side. On Thursday 12 May 2016 Abdul Hafidah, 18, was murdered in Moss Side.
At about 5.15pm that day Wright, Ford, George, Walters, Wilson, Goodall, Neish, Cantrill, Samuels and a 14-year-old boy, chased Abdul from Princess Parkway and onto Moss Lane East, where they attacked him, one with a hammer.
After a considerable chase where Abdul was clearly exhausted, he was finally incapacitated after Williams drove his Vauxhall Corsa at him, knocking him to the ground.
Once on the floor, Abdul was viciously attacked by the group with punches, kicks and stamps.
The group then ran away in the direction of Quinney Crescent where the Corsa was waiting.
Witnesses called an ambulance for Abdul, but he sadly died in hospital on 14 May 2016.
A Home Office post mortem concluded that he died from two stab wounds to the neck and also had injuries to his head.
Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton of GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “Abdul Hafidah lost his life under such tragic circumstances. A family lost their son and have been put through a tremendous amount of heartache.
“Moss Side is a supportive and close-knit community; incidents like this do not represent the majority of the community.
“These sentences demonstrate that there are no winners with knife crime, and we need to stand together to ensure incidents like this one don’t happen ever again.”
Abdul Hafidah’s family has paid tribute to him: “Abdulwahab was a loving son, brother and uncle.
“He was selfless, putting everyone before himself. He cherished the good times he spent with his family and friends and was always smiling and laughing.
“Abdulwahab started each day by greeting his mother and father with a kiss on their foreheads.
“On the morning of 12 May 2016, Abdulwahab’s parents were away on holiday when they received their last message from him which read “mum and dad I love you”. He sent this without knowledge it would be for the last time.
“Abdulwahab did not die as a result of accident or ill health; he was hunted down, attacked and ripped away from our lives forever in a senseless act of brutality and we as a family are totally devastated by his loss.
“We are consumed by the sadness and emptiness we feel knowing we will never see him again, but we will never forget him. His passing has left a void in our family that can never be replaced.
“After a long investigation and trial of those involved we are relieved that justice has been done and those responsible have been made to account for their actions.
“We do not hate those involved, but we hate what they have done. They have not only taken Abdulwahab’s life at a time when he had so much to live for; they have ruined our lives as well as theirs and their families.
“We would like to thank the members of public who tried to help our son as he lay on the tarmac fighting for his life and the medical staff who tended to him in an attempt to bring him back to us. We would also like to extend out thanks to the Crown Prosecution Service, Investigation Team, Family Liaison Officers and Victim and Witness Support, who have helped us throughout this process.
“We as a family ask that our privacy be respected to allow us time to grieve.
“Thank you.”
The below people were convicted on Monday 10 July 2017, after a trial at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square.
On Thursday 14 September 2017 they were sentenced.
Devonte Cantrill (02/10/1996) of no fixed address was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum 23 years to serve.
Delroy Wright (10/01/99) of no fixed address was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 19 years to serve.
Durrell Ford (04/10/1996) of Darncombe Close, Moss Side was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years to serve.
Nathanial Jermaine Williams (25/07/1998) of Hebburn Walk, Rusholme was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 19 years to serve.
Devonte Neish (13/11/1998) of Nell Lane, Manchester was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years.
William George (27/03/1996) of Cowesby Street, Moss Side was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years youth detention.
The below people were convicted on Tuesday 8 August 2017, after a trial at Preston Crown Court.
On Thursday 14 September 2017 they were sentenced.
Reanu Walters (22/12/1997) of Greame Street, Moss Side was found guilty of murder at Preston Crown Court and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years to serve.
Trey Wilson (10/01/1998) of Oakfield Avenue, Whalley Range was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years to serve.
Durrell Goodall (08/11/1996) of Kings Road, Ashton-under-Lyne was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 16 years to serve.
Remekell Samuels (19/04/1998) of Caythorpe Street, Moss Side pleaded guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to eight years.
