A man from Upminster has been convicted of murdering an 18-year-old in a broad daylight machete stabbing, after he was overheard bragging about it in prison.
Rahiem Anderson, 18, of Carlton Close, was found guilty of killing Santino Angelo Dymiter by an Old Bailey jury earlier today (February 17).
While in custody, prison officers overheard the sick killer boasting loudly to other inmates in brutal and graphic detail about the murder.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also convicted of murdering the teen in Chadd Green, Plaistow, on August 26, 2019.
Just weeks before the murder, the pair were released from young offenders institutions having been convicted over a plot to kidnap, falsely imprison and blackmail a young man.
It was alleged that they had been directed by senior Beckton Boys gang member Shaian Forde, who had been released from jail slightly beforehand.
It was claimed Forde, aka Shanks, 26, wanted retribution after being stabbed six days earlier.
Mr Forde, from Dagenham, wiped away tears and pumped his fists in the air as he was found not guilty of murder.
A girlfriend of Mr Forde’s, Robyn Willson, 27, of Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, was also acquitted of assisting an offender.
Judge Richard Marks QC adjourned sentencing to April 6 for reports on the youngest defendant.
Prosecutor Jake Hallam QC told the jury it was a “barbaric” killing carried out by the two teenagers.
The killers were connected with the Beckton Boys, who had a long-running dispute with the Chadd Green gang, with whom the victim was associated.
At about 3.20pm on August 26, the two teenagers arrived in Chadd Green in a stolen car, wearing black clothes and latex gloves, with their faces covered by bandanas.
Armed with machetes, they went for Mr Dymiter and an 18-year-old friend who took refuge in his nearby home.
Mr Hallam said the victim was caught and hacked to death by a “succession of terrible slashing and stabbing blows”.
Mr Dymiter, who suffered wounds to his neck and back, was heard to scream “help me”.
Afterwards he collapsed on the pavement, his white T-shirt soaked in blood.
Despite the efforts of medics at the scene, he was pronounced dead.
The getaway car, which was found abandoned, was linked to the two attackers by DNA and fingerprints, jurors heard.
The pair’s movements were also traced through their electronic tags, having previously been convicted over a kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail plot the year before.
The youngest defendant was arrested at his home on September 5, 2019, and made no comment in police interview.
Mr Forde and Anderson were arrested two days later along with Ms Willson at her home.
Anderson made no comment to police but, while on remand at Cookham Wood Young Offenders’ Institution, was heard to brag about the killing to inmates.
Laughing, he said: “The machete got stuck in his head … yeah, the blood splashed on my face.
“When I pulled the knife out of his head, the blood was a mad thing.
“Then I shanked him again. It was funny, my man was laughing.”
One of those listening responded: “It’s like music to my ears.”
Anderson went on to claim his victim was “crying for his mum” and mockingly imitated him shouting in a high voice: “Mummy, Mummy, Mummy.”
Prosecutor Mr Hallam told jurors: “The other prisoners were laughing and pretending to fall over from laughter.”
The court was told that Mr Dymiter went by the street name Star Nine in an apparent reference to a 9mm pistol.
He was linked to the Chadd Green gang and had a conviction for causing grievous bodily harm with intent over a stabbing in 2018.
Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith, said: “The attack on Santino was shocking not only in its ferocity, but also in the amount, and the ineffectiveness of, the planning that had gone into it.”
“Our enquiries led us to believe that when the two teenagers commit their attack, they intended to murder both Santino and his friend.
“Ultimately, a young man is dead and two people will now waste the best years of their lives in jail. There are no winners.
"The shockwaves of the convictions and the resulting sentences will resonate throughout the families and loved ones of all of those concerned for years to come.”
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