Detectives additionally recovered a social media video during which Sivanda, utilizing a filter to attempt to disguise his face, boasted that he believed he had killed the sufferer and described the ugly assault.
Arrest footage of Richard Sivanda
A 23-year-old man has been jailed for 27 years after stabbing an entire stranger within the head in a case of mistaken identification linked to gang violence. Richard Sivanda, of Highgate Hill, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Courtroom on Friday, after being convicted of tried homicide.
The assault occurred on Saturday February 15, 2025 when Sivanda approached a 20-year-old man and his girlfriend as they walked alongside Highgate Hill in the direction of Highgate tube station in north London. Neither sufferer knew Sivanda. He challenged the person, asking the place he was from, wrongly believing he was a member of a rival gang chargeable for a 2021 homicide for which there was no proof.
Richard Sivanda and a nonetheless from footage moments earlier than the assault (Picture: Met Police)
Richard Sivanda shortly after his arrest (Picture: Met Police) Get the day’s largest headlines in UK and World information and extra Subscribe Invalid e mail
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When the couple walked away, Sivanda chased them down and stabbed the sufferer within the head with a pointed weapon earlier than fleeing. The sufferer was left in a vital situation however reached hospital for life-saving therapy.
He suffered everlasting mind harm and now requires assisted dwelling.
CCTV footage positioned Sivanda on the scene earlier than and after the assault. Officers arrested him at his dwelling deal with simply 29 hours later.
Detectives additionally recovered a social media video during which Sivanda, utilizing a filter to attempt to disguise his face, boasted that he believed he had killed the sufferer and described the ugly assault.
Sivanda had beforehand pleaded responsible to assault with intent to trigger critical hurt. On January 14 a jury discovered him responsible of tried homicide.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Alger, who led the investigation, stated: “Our ideas are with the sufferer of this heinous assault. A sufferer of mistaken identification, this case reveals how gang violence can spill out onto our streets.
“Sivanda was notably brazen, going so far as to brag on social media concerning the assault and the lasting harm he prompted. Fortunately our detective work has put him behind bars.”
The Metropolitan Police stated the sentencing comes because it continues efforts to sort out knife crime. Final 12 months officers seized practically 3,000 knives utilizing data-driven techniques, dismantling gangs and bringing offenders to justice.
The power added that the variety of folks hospitalised after stabbings has fallen 29 % within the final 5 years.
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