Four Haringey men convicted after 'senseless' Halloween murder

Five men were found guilty in connection with the killing of 21-year-old Givani Espuet at a Halloween party

Givani inset Sudbury Road, Harrow. Credit: Metropolitan Police, Google Streetview

Four men from Haringey have been convicted following the murder of a 21-year-old man at a Halloween party.

At the Old Bailey on Thursday, 22nd February, Kadeem Hibbert, 30, of Gladstone Avenue, Wood Green, N22 was found guilty of the murder of Givani Espuet and violent disorder; Bruce Hutchinson, 30, of Marlborough Road, Wood Green was found guilty of violent disorder; Andre Brown-Watson, 37, of Park Grove, N11, was found guilty of violent disorder; and Sahid Kpaka, 29, of Gladstone Avenue, N22 was found guilty of murder.

Another man, Courtney Forrester from Luton, was found guilty of manslaughter.

The court heard how on Sunday, 30th October 2022, Givani had gone with two friends to a Halloween party at a bar on Harrow Road in Sudbury.

A dispute broke out that wound up outside, with Hibbert attacking Givani with a knife.

Givani was pursued by the group before being repeatedly stabbed. A post-mortem examination found he was stabbed eleven times, including to the heart.

An ambulance crew was waiting in traffic near where the incident took place, but despite their aid Givani died at the scene.

The killers fled the scene leaving behind a hat that was later linked to Forrester.

Detective Inspector Jim Barry, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “This was a senseless killing that has left a family, partner and community grieving. Givani was pursued for no reason and was repeatedly stabbed because the defendants didn’t want to lose face.

“If none of these men had taken a knife to that party, then Givani would probably still be alive and these men would not be facing years in prison. Givani had his whole life ahead of him.”

A date for sentencing is yet to be set. Further charges of violent disorder have been brought against four other men awaiting trial.

DCI Barry added: “If you suspect someone of carrying a knife, speak to them and point out the dreadful results of knife crime. If they will not listen to you call police. Even if they are arrested, those consequences are better than the alternatives.”

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