A second man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Sylvester Akapalara.
David Nyamupfukudza, 19, of New Cross SE14 will serve a minimum of 26 years’ imprisonment for the murder.
He was also sentenced to a further life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years’ for attempted murder (to run concurrently).
Nyamupfukudza was convicted at the Old Bailey on 29th May 2012, and sentenced the next day.
Sodiq Adeojo, 20, of Shurland Gardens SE15 was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment on 16th February, for Sylvester's murder.
Adeojo was also found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
On 29th December 2010, police were called at approximately 16:30hrs to the Pelican Estate in Peckham SE15.
Sylvester, (also known as Vesta) was found in the fourth floor stairwell at Heron House. He was suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Trident detectives investigating the murder established that Sylvester and two of his friends were meeting on the 8th floor of Heron House to exchange some cannabis worth around £10. Whilst they were there they noticed a gang of youths approaching the bottom of the tower block.
Sylvester and his friends were chased down the communal stairs of Heron House by Adeojo and Nyamupfukudza. During this chase Sylvester was shot in the neck, causing him to bleed to death.
Meanwhile his two friends ran for their lives, chased by the defendants and as they tried to get out of the building they were stabbed several times and attempts were made to shoot them but the gun had jammed.
Both victims managed to escape with their lives, scared and alone they ran home and were later treated for their injuries.
Residents in Heron House heard the gunshot and the commotion and called the police. Police found Sylvester on the stairwell, but he had already died from his injuries.
DI Matt Gosling from Trident Gang Crime Command said he was pleased to see Nyamupfukudza jailed. “Sylvester was brutally gunned down and murdered in the most callous way and it is only because the gun jammed that his two friends were not shot too.
“The Trident Gang Command will pursue relentlessly those individuals who are intent on committing violence and murder. We are also here if you want to engage with us and want our help in exiting a gang lifestyle but, if you do not, we will identify you and we will arrest you.”
