Murderer who stabbed victim 24 times then fled the scene on his bicycle only to be caught at Gatwick trying to leave the country is jailed for life

• Raekwon Hanniford-Brown, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder

A 23-year-old drug dealer who murdered a man after stabbing him 24 times and fled the scene on a bike before being caught at Gatwick Airport has been jailed for life.

Raekwon Hanniford-Brown, of Rossiter Road, Balham, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years at Croydon Crown Court on Friday for killing Errol McKay, 49, in Wandsworth.

The court heard an argument broke out between Mr McKay and his attacker at the victim’s flat on Trinity Crescent on July 27 2022.

It turned into a physical fight that ended with Mr McKay sustaining fatal wounds.

The pair had an agreement for Hanniford-Brown to store drugs that he dealt in Mr McKay’s flat, and in turn the victim was supplied with crack cocaine, the Met said.

Raekwon Hanniford-Brown (pictured), of Rossiter Road, Balham, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years at Croydon Crown Court on Friday

Errol McKay (pictured), 49, was found dead at the scene with 24 stab wounds on July 27 last year

Mr McKay was pronounced dead at the scene with 24 stab wounds including injuries to the back of his head and neck.

Police said Hanniford-Brown moved his drugs safe in the flat before leaving the scene on a bicycle.

He then disposed of the knife and tried to leave the country but was arrested at Gatwick Airport on July 28 and charged with murder the following day.

The court heard forensic examiners found extensive bloodstaining in the lounge, where the attack took place, and kitchen of the flat.

A bloody handprint was also found in the bedroom which linked to Hanniford-Brown’s fingerprints.

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Semple, of the Met’s specialist crime command, said: ‘Hanniford-Brown claimed that he acted in self-defence and that he suffered with PTSD and a phobia of knives, he also said that if it wasn’t self-defence, he at least hadn’t intended to cause Errol serious harm.

‘However, the severity of the wounds he inflicted, the mobile phone data and the steps he took to distance himself from the incident, indicated otherwise.’

A spokesperson for Mr McKay’s family said: ‘Errol was the youngest of nine children, the baby of the family. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and nephew.

‘Errol was humble, funny and affectionate. A kind-hearted man who prioritised family.

‘This man took Errol’s life then tried to run away. Some of us have been able to forgive, others have not, cannot and will not.

‘Errol was taken from us too soon but leaves behind a legacy of love.’

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