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August 2023
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Two men have been given life sentences for the murder of a well-known drill rapper who was stabbed to death in Deptford in December 2019.
Elijah Morgan, 20 (04.11.00) of no fixed address and Jedaiah Param, 21 (07.08.99) of Norwood High Street, West Norwood, were found guilty on Friday, 12 March following a trial at the Old Bailey. They were both sentenced at the same court on Monday, 19 April to a minimum of 28 years in jail. The court heard Morgan and Param were part of a gang of four young men armed with knives who chased and then fatally stabbed 20-year-old Crosslon Davis in an alleyway in Deptford. Analysis of mobile phone records showed that Crosslon arrived at Deptford Creek with a friend in the early hours of 6 December 2019. Cell site data of mobile phones belonging to Morgan and Param showed they had arrived in the same area slightly earlier. The pair were identified by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command through CCTV from a minicab that was called to pick them up at the scene. The violent attack started after Morgan and Param got into the minicab and Crosslon attacked Morgan with a mallet. The minicab drove away from the scene a short distance before the driver was told to stop and Morgan and Param got out and started chasing Crosslon. CCTV footage from Ha’penny Hatch showed that Crosslon was pursued by the pair, as well as two other unidentified males, who were all armed with knives or machetes. All four of them stabbed Crosslon, who collapsed to the ground. Crosslon’s friend had tried to place himself between him and the attackers, but he was overpowered. A number of local residents provided statements describing how they had seen the group running after Crosslon. Police and paramedics were called to the scene. Despite their efforts, Crosslon died a short time later due to the loss of blood from at least nine stab wounds, including one that penetrated his lung and heart. Crosslon’s friend called 999 and initially stayed with him until the emergency services arrived. However, he gave a false name to officers at the scene and declined to give a witness statement, or help with the police investigation in any way. Morgan was identified after a police officer recognised him from the minicab CCTV footage. He was arrested at an address in Birmingham on 2 January. Param, who was also identified via the minicab CCTV, was arrested at Dover Eastern Docks after he was found hiding underneath a coat in the back of a car as it went through passport control. Both men declined to comment in police interviews and subsequently pleaded not guilty to murder. Morgan’s defence during the trial was that he was wrongly identified. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Vandenbergh, the lead investigator, said: “This was a savage and merciless attack. Crosslon was clearly running way from his attackers, who set upon him armed with large knives. “The number of stab wounds sustained by Crosslon demonstrates the murderous intent of the four people who hunted him down. “I think it is right that Elijah Morgan and Jedaiah Param have received lengthy jail sentences for their part in the attack. I am also pleased that we have some justice for Crosslon’s family, who have conducted themselves with the greatest of dignity throughout the court process "We know there are still two other people who took part in this attack, who have not yet been identified, and we are still determined to find them. I urge anyone who knows where they are to contact police immediately.” In her victim impact statement, Crosslon’s mother Vivienne said: “My life was all about Crosslon. He was reason for leaving my house, the reason I cook every day, he is the first thing on my mind when I wake and the last thing on my mind at night. We had lots of laughs through good and bad and he was also my friend. “We still can’t believe this is happening. Crosslon's life was tragically cut short, and I am still numb and paralysed, plagued by grief and pain. They have ripped out my heart. We are haunted by what happened to Cross. “Crosslon was easy to love, so polite and always respectful. He was popular amongst his friends, fun compassionate and loyal. He will be greatly missed by them all as they also continue to grieve their loss.” If you have any information about the identity of these two men, or know of their whereabouts, please call police on 101. You can also give information, 100 per cent anonymously, to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org If you are worried about someone you suspect may be carrying a knife or other weapon, advice and support is also available through organisations including Knife Free and Fearless. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FULL VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT FROM VIVIENNE DAVIS I have struggled with this statement as there is no words to easily explain how the actions of these individuals has affected me and my family. I don’t think it could ever be accurately conveyed. On December 6th our lives changed forever. At around 4am I was informed by two officers at my home that my son had passed away. I believe I have been in a state of shock ever since and continue to be frozen at that precise day and time. It is as though I am having an out of body experience, this can’t possibly be happening to me! Every morning that I wake up is as if it is ground hog day, still the 5th of December 2019 and I just cannot fathom going any further. I do not want to see beyond that, a world and life without my baby. I am surrounded with darkness and all I see is pain, anger, hurt, frustration but no sight of happiness. Happy no longer exists for us. On the 6th of December 2019, when I opened the door to those two police officers, that is the exact moment happy left our lives. Those officers gave me a pill that night that I just can’t seem to swallow. I continue to hold this pill because it’s still too big a pill to swallow. They have not only murdered my baby, but they have also murdered any grandchildren my baby could have given me. My son wanted children so much and he would have been a brilliant father! We spoke about him wanting a baby only months before he was brutally murdered. He had plans for his future. Cross had secured himself a place at university to start January 2020 and was also planning to get his driving license so that he could commute to university. He also had a prearranged meeting for the 10th of December with a music distribution company who was interested in his songs, hence the video he had just been filming on the day before his murder. Crosslon has been rapping since the age of two. At five years of age, he told me he wanted to be one of three things: a rapper, soldier or policeman. When my father passed away Cross wanted to know who was most likely to die first of the said three professions. I explained logically: soldier, then policeman followed by rapper based on dangers at work. He came to the decision he would be a rapper first but didn’t wish to be famous, secondly a police officer and lastly a soldier as the likelihood of dying was greatest with the last profession. Ironically, he became a rapper and now he is dead. Cross also loved Art and wanted to become an architect, hence him pursuing higher education. When he started secondary school at Westminster Boys, he loved design and technology which prompted this passion for design and end goal. He had plans for his future, and I was right beside him to help and support him along the way to reaching his goals. I was really looking forward to the man he was becoming, and I was extremely proud of the person he was. My life was all about Crosslon. He was reason for leaving my house, the reason I cook every day, he is the first thing on my mind when I wake and the last thing on my mind at night. We had lots of laughs through good and bad and he was also my friend. We still can’t believe this is happening. Crosslon's life was tragically cut short, and I am still numb and paralysed, plagued by grief and pain. They have ripped out my heart. We are haunted by what happened to Cross. My day consists of having to deal with severe anxiety, depression and panic attacks due to the callous actions of these boys. My sons had to bury their baby brother; imagine how they must feel? They have become truly damaged, filled with guilt and despair. Our family has changed beyond repair. It is a daily struggle and fight to continue as a mother, but my children are the reason I keep going. Our lives have been totally derailed. They have not only murdered Cross, but they have killed his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, family and friends! It is so painstakingly heart wrenching for me to see my family like this, knowing I cannot do a thing to help. It breaks my heart to know the pain my grandchildren are enduring, missing their uncle and so painfully aware of his absence. They have had to endure such trauma and terror which they will be haunted with for the rest of their lives. They suffer with night terrors, so many unanswered questions, “why him?” “Why would anyone hurt Uncle Cross?” and continue receiving counselling and support. Crosslon was easy to love, so polite and always respectful. He was popular amongst his friends, fun compassionate and loyal. He will be greatly missed by them all as they also continue to grieve their loss. He was intelligent and had the whole world in front of him, such a bright future cruelly cut short. Crosslon was vibrant and so alive, he had so much to live for and so much talent and promise. He had a beautiful, radiant and warm smile! We will never see him get married or have children. Taken away from us due to the violent and wilful actions of 5 cruel strangers. I would do anything to trade places with Crosslon and take away the terror and pain he must have felt that night! This evil should never be allowed to be a part of our society again with their constant lack of respect for the law. These cowards pleading not guilty and causing us to have to go through this horrifically detailed trial on how they brutally and callously murdered my baby, refusing to acknowledge guilt or responsibility for their heinous crime speaks for itself. They have made me watch my son being killed around 15 times on the CCTV footage which was shown to the court. The last time I held my baby was the 5th of December 2019. We hugged and said “I love you” as we usually do when he leaves out, but this time I said “break a leg” for luck as I would normally do when he is performing or going to shoot a video. The saddest thing is that I buried my baby without the realisation of what I was doing; I will NEVER hold my baby again. I will never hear him call me Mumma again. We will never get the complete feeling of happiness again, but we cherish every moment we had with Crosslon and have so many wonderful memories. No sentence imposed will ever reflect the heartache and pain inflicted upon our family and we will never come to terms with our loss but Crosslon will always be in our hearts. He will never be forgotten. source Comments are closed.
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