Two men who were arrested in connection with the 2023 disappearance and death of Justin Henry have been convicted of manslaughter, after the prosecution was unsuccessful in bringing a murder charge.
Lewis Benjamin, 30, of Waddon New Road, and Jamal Ali-Richards, 29, of Thornlaw Road, West Norwood, were given the verdict at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday, following an eight-week trial.
The court heard that while Henry had been reported missing, Benjamin and Ali-Richards were discarding of his body and attempting to clean up evidence of his death.
It took police more than three weeks before they found Henry’s body, dumped in the boot of a car in Purley.
Justin Henry was 34 when he died, the father of an 11-year-old son.
Henry was reported missing on Monday, October 16, 2023, as he never returned home after he left his girlfriend’s house in Brixton the evening before.
Drive-thru: the CCTV from McDonald’s in Norbury was the last sighting of Justin Henry when alive
Henry was last seen alive on CCTV coverage from a McDonald’s drive-thru in Norbury on the evening of Sunday, October 15.
Police released photographs of Henry’s Rolex watch, three Cartier bracelets and a diamond ring to assist their enquiries in finding what happened to him.
The police managed to trace his movements from the McDonald’s on London Road to Waddon New Road, where Benjamin lived. Henry’s Mercedes-Benz was parked near this address for more than two hours before the car was driven to Kingswood Drive, in Gipsy Hill, although the police believe that Henry was already dead at this point, and “someone else had moved his vehicle”.
When police officers arrived at Benjamin’s address, it had been cleared of most furniture and the carpet had been ripped up and removed. The flat also appeared to have been deep-cleaned.
Guilty: Lewis Benjamin
Police declared the flat a crime scene, and when forensic officers were called to the property, they located small splatters of blood on the walls.
Close to Benjamin’s address, officers located black plastic bags which contained a section of blood-soaked carpet. “When tested, the blood from the address and the carpet was matched to Justin Henry,” the Met said.
Benjamin was arrested on October 24, 2023. When officers arrived at this address, he ran into the back garden, throwing his phone away before being detained and arrested. When his phone was analysed, it showed that Benjamin had been in contact with Justin Henry prior to his disappearance.
In interview, Benjamin refused to answer any questions. He was charged with murder on the day after his arrest.
Ali-Richards handed himself in to police and was arrested on October 27, and was charged with murder.
Guilty: Jamal Ali-Richards
As part of the investigation, on November 6 the police located one of two cars which the defendants had bought in the days following Henry’s disappearance.
Parked in a residents’ car park off Dale Road in Purley, and with false number plates, the police found Justin Henry’s dead body in the car’s boot.
On February 17 this year, as the murder trial began, Lewis Benjamin pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice following his attempts to disguise his actions and dispose of evidence.
On March 21, during the trial, Jamal Ali-Richards also pleaded guilty to the same charge.
Both men pleaded not guilty to murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Magee of the Met’s specialist crime team led the investigation. He said, “Justin’s disappearance prompted a complex and extensive investigation.
Determined: DCI Craig Magee
“The verdict is testament to the painstaking efforts of the investigation team. Benjamin and Ali-Richards went to great lengths to dispose of evidence and cover their tracks, which included significant attempts to dispose of Justin’s body. Despite these efforts, the team worked tirelessly to piece together the evidence and establish the facts.
“Today’s verdict sends a clear message that we will work tirelessly to hold those who commit such crimes to account.”
Ali-Richards and Benjamin will appear at Woolwich Crown Court on June 10 for sentencing.
Read more: Body found in Purley as police search for missing Justin Henry
Read more: Rolex watch and Cartier bracelets linked to Henry investigation
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