Trio Found Guilty of Killing Man in Battersea
Uber Eats delivery driver was trying to stop them stealing his moped
Iderval da Silva
January 2, 2020
Three people have been found guilty at the Old Bailey of killing a Brazilian man in Battersea last May.
A jury delivered their verdict this Thursday, 2 January after hearing how 46-year-old Iderval da Silva was attacked by the trio in Charlotte Despard Avenue last 25 May.
Jaden Richards, 19, of Strasburg Road, Wandsworth, and a 16-year-old boy were found guilty of murder while another 16-year-old boy was found guilty of manslaughter. Jesire Frazer, 18, of Battersea Park Road and a 17-year-old boy were found not guilty.
Jaden Richards
The police were called to the location at 4.32pm after reports of a fight and found Mr da Silva with a serious head injury. He was taken to hopsitial where he died four days later.
The court heard how Mr da Silval, who had been living in London at the time, was enjoying food with his friends before going to work as an Uber Eats delivery driver. He then saw someone trying to steal his moped while it was parked outside.
He immediately confronted the 16-year-old boy who was sat on the moped trying to start it. Some of the boy’s friends then approached and brutally attacked him in broad daylight.
The group of six then fled the scene and left Mr da Silva lying on the street unconscious.
Members of the public, including Mr da Silva’s friends, witnessed the assault on him.
The incident was partially captured on CCTV which formed a large part of the investigation. A mobile phone was also left behind by one of the teenagers which led detectives to identify him and his associates.
Police made a series of arrests over the days and weeks that followed and six people were charged with murder.
A 17-year-old boy was also charged but part-way through the trial the judge deemed he had no case to answer.
Detective Inspector Tariq Farooqi led the investigation. He said: “Iderval was targeted purely because he was the owner of the scooter. When he tried to prevent his livelihood from being taken away from him, the violence then ensued. They were ferocious and heartless in the way they attacked him.
“The attackers, who are all known to each other, clearly set out that day to commit crime. Because of this, a family have lost a truly loved individual who was trying to provide for his son and extended family members.
“I would also like to thank the witnesses who assisted police during the investigation and showed courage in attending court to give evidence. It showed true community spirit and a determination to bring to justice those responsible for this horrific attack. I know the family of Iderval are grateful to all those that have supported the investigation and assisted police.”
The guilty trio will be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, 5 February.