The two men found guilty of the 2023 manslaughter of Justin Henry were yesterday sentenced to a total of more than 28 years in jail.
Guilty: Lewis Benjamin
Following the conclusion of the court case, the Metropolitan Police released additional materials connected to the trial, including bodycam footage from the arrest in October 2023 of Lewis Benjamin (above).
Benjamin, 30, of Waddon New Road, Croydon, and Jamal Ali-Richards, 29, of Thornlaw Road, Norwood, appeared for sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday.
Benjamin was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment – 14 years for manslaughter and six years for perverting the course of justice – and Ali-Richards received a sentence of five years and six months for manslaughter plus three years for perverting the course of justice.
They had been on trial for eight weeks earlier this year, when the prosecution was unsuccessful in bringing a murder charge.
During the trial, the court heard that while Henry had been reported missing, Benjamin and Ali-Richards were discarding 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.
Guilty: Jamal Ali-Richards
Justin Henry was 34 when he died, the father of an 11-year-old son.
Benjamin was arrested on October 24, 2023, while Ali-Richards was arrested days later.
Following yesterday’s sentencing, Justin Henry’s family said: “Justin was a kind, loving, and vibrant soul whose life was taken far too soon. The pain of his disappearance and the unimaginable circumstances surrounding his death have left a void in our lives that can never be filled.”
The family said that over the past two years, they “have endured an agonising wait for answers”.
They said: “While we are grateful that justice has been served in part, and those responsible for Justin’s death have been held accountable, no verdict can ever bring him back to us or ease the sorrow we carry every day.”
Justin Henry was reported missing on Monday, October 16, 2023, after failing to return home the previous night following a visit to his girlfriend.
Drive-thru: the CCTV from McDonald’s in Norbury was the last sighting of Justin Henry when alive
Detectives began tracing his movements using CCTV, which showed him alive on Sunday, October 15, at the McDonald’s drive-thru in Norbury.
He then drove about two-and-a-half miles to Waddon New Road, where Benjamin lived.
His silver Mercedes E Class remained parked there for more than two hours before being moved to Kingswood Drive, in Gipsy Hill.
The Met said: “Investigators believe Justin had already died by this point and that someone else moved the vehicle to avoid suspicion.”
The car’s movement raised suspicions around Benjamin. “When police entered Benjamin’s flat, it was nearly empty, with furniture removed, carpets stripped and signs of recent deep cleaning, pointing to an attempt to destroy evidence,” the Met said.
The flat was declared a crime scene. Forensic teams uncovered small blood spatters on the walls, and nearby discovered black plastic bags containing a heavily bloodstained section of carpet. Lab tests confirmed the blood belonged to Justin Henry.
Benjamin was arrested after trying to flee and discard his phone, which later revealed contact with Henry before his disappearance. Benjamin refused to answer questions and was charged with murder. Ali-Richards surrendered to police and was also charged with murder.
As the investigation continued, on November 6, the police found one of two vehicles the suspects had purchased recently and fitted with false number plates. The car was parked in a residents’ car park off Dale Road in Purley.
False plates: the Nissan Almera discovered in a Purley residents’ car park
When examined, the police found the body of Justin Henry in the boot.
On February 17 this year, Benjamin pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, admitting to attempts to cover up his actions and destroy evidence. On March 21, during the trial, Ali-Richards entered the same plea. Both men pleaded not guilty to murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Magee of the Met’s Specialist Crime team, led the investigation. He said: “The deliberate actions taken by Benjamin and Ali-Richards to conceal their crime show a disturbing disregard for Justin’s life and the impact on those who loved him.
“The sentences handed down today reflect the severity of their offences and the extensive efforts made to obstruct justice. This outcome is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of the investigation team.”
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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