Lavaun Witter Croydon murder: Four men jailed after attack

Lavaun Witter, 22, was attacked with a knife along with a 16-year-old boy as they ran away from a group of men armed with knives and swords on February 5, 2021.

Police were called to Wisbeach Road at 8.08pm after a member of the public found Lavaun collapsed and seriously injured.

He died at the scene with a wound to his leg.

An investigation revealed that Lavaun’s flat had been broken into just before the attack by the armed men who demanded drugs and slashed through a door.

Lavaun collapsed while he was running away with the teenage boy.

CCTV enquiries quickly identified the suspects as Tyreece Riggon, Julian Russell, Tyreece Wolfries-Parkin and Alex Pasley.

Then on February 18 that year, police raised an address linked to Riggon and arrested the 24-year-old along with 26-year-old Russell.

Tyreece Riggon (Image: Met Police)

Lavaun’s Louis Vuitton bag was then found after a raid at Russell’s address.

Julian Russell (Image: Met Police) Wolfries-Parkin and Pasley were also arrested in the following weeks.

All were charged with Lavaun’s murder as well as attempted murder and attempted grievous bodily harm of the 16-year-old.

Tyreece Wolfries-Parkin (Image: Met Police) Russell, of Sanfield Road, Thornton Heath and 22-year-old Tyreece Wolfries- Parkins were found guilty of murder at an Old Bailey trial in 2023.

Pasley, 29, of Paxton Grove in Coulsdon, was found guilty of manslaughter.

A retrial took place last year and on December 12 Riggon of Armistice Gardens in Norwood was found guilty of attempted GBH. Pasley was also found guilty of attempted GBH in relation to the attack on the 16-year-old boy.

The group appeared at the Old Bailey this Wednesday (February 19) for sentencing.

Alex Pasley (Image: Met Police) Julian Russell was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 24 years in prison minus the four years spent on remand.

Tyreece Wolfries- Parkins was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum term of 20 years minus the time spent on remand.

Alex Pasley was sentenced to 17 years in prison and Tyreece Riggon was sentenced to six years, both minus four years spent on remand.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan, Senior Investigating Officer in the case said: “These men were prepared to use extreme levels of violence and take Lavaun’s life to gain possession of drugs they believed were inside the property.

“Lavaun was defenceless against the four men who were each armed with large knives, including a Samurai sword.

“Levaun’s death devastated his family and his community. I commend the bravery and strength they have shown throughout this lengthy investigation.”