Gang jailed for carnival rampage

Nine members of a gang known as the Hackney Posse were jailed today for violent disorder at the Notting Hill Carnival in which a man died.

Defendants, family and friends all shouted abuse at Judge Christopher Hordern as he imposed sentences of up to 21 months at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Insurance salesman Abdul Bhatti, 28, was kicked, punched and beaten as a gang of up to 50 went on the rampage. Nobody has been charged with the murder at the carnival in August 2000.

The police had pursued controversial "softly-softly" tactics for fear of starting a riot, but it ended in the deaths of Mr Bhatti and 21-year-old father of one Greg Watson.

Today the judge said the defendants had acted like a "herd" which had been "hell-bent on trouble".

During the trial the jury had been shown CCTV footage of a crowd throwing bottles. The attack on Mr Bhatti, which police treated as racist, was not caught by the video cameras.

Sentencing the defendants, aged between 18 and 24, the judge said: "This was appalling violence and such conduct is not only violent but very dangerous. It's a level of violence which cannot be tolerated and it is the duty of this court to show that it will not be tolerated.

"It's important that those who are minded to attend carnival with a view to causing mayhem or joining in when they are there will understand that they will receive proper punishment otherwise one of the very enjoyable events in summer in London may have to be abandoned."

Joseph Lawson, 23, of Upper Clapton, Daniel Watts, 20, of Stoke Newington and Darian Greenaway, 22, of Islington were each sentenced to 15 months. Daniel Frederick, 18, of Stoke Newington, Shaun Greenidge, 24, of Islington and Wayne Thompson, 23, of Islington received 18 months. Jermaine Brown, 20, of Islington, Pepi Brown, 19, of Islington and Michael Coe, 21, of Hackney each received 21 months. Coe is already serving four years for another offence and the new sentence must be served consecutively. The defendants under the age of 21 will start their sentences at a young offenders' institution.

A tenth defendant, Kirk Wynter, 19 of Stoke Newington failed to arrive at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

After their convictions last month for violent disorder Mr Bhatti's sister Aruna Malik said the family was still outraged that nobody had been brought to justice for his murder. "These men will only be jailed for a year or two, maximum. It's disgusting," she said.

Police vowed to continue the investigation into the murder.

Today police mounted a major security operation with officers and dogs patrolling the streets around the court. There was a heavy police presence inside and in the corridors, as well as a large number of prison officers in the dock with the defendants who were brought in to hear their sentences in small groups.

The judge rejected a defence attempt to have the police removed from court.