User:RyanCGregg/sandbox/Junior Simpson (murderer)

Junior Odeen Simpson (born 18 January 2001) is an English gang member and convicted murderer.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of Jermaine Goupall. He was jailed with accomplices Adam Benzahi, 21 and Samuel Oliver-Rowland, 17. Simpson's girlfriend, Saskia Haye-Elliot, 18, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years. Despite the ages of Simpson and Oliver-Rowland, reporting restrictions were lifted, allowing both boys to be named.

Biography
Simpson was living in Northdown Crescent, Croydon, London with his girlfriend Saskia Haye-Elliot at the time of the murder.

Murder of Jermaine Goupall
On 8 August 2017, 15-year-old Jermaine Goupall was stabbed to death in a gang attack in Thornton Heath. He was with his friends outside a Costcutter shop on Green Lane when a silver Ford Focus pulled up and at least three men wearing balaclavas got out.

Jermaine tried to run away but was stabbed in the leg and collapsed in Georgia Road at around 11pm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before midnight. A post-mortem confirmed he died from the wound to his femoral artery.

Sentencing
On 12 August Junior Simpson, 16, (18.1.01) of Northdown Crescent, Croydon, and Saskia Haye-Elliot, 18 (02.04.99) of Northdown Crescent, Croydon, were charged with murder.

Samuel Oliver-Rowland, 17 [27/9/99], of Epsom Road, Croydon, was charged with murder on 14 August and Daniel Luke, 18 (20.05.99) from Donald Road, Croydon was charged on 18 August.

Adam Benzahi, 21 (4.09.96) of Croydon, fled to Algiers after the attack but was arrested on 31 October after returning to the UK and was charged with murder the following day.

They went on trial at the Old Bailey on 9 January 2018. Simpson, Benzahi and Oliver-Rowland were convicted of murder on 14 February 2018. Haye-Elliot was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. Luke was cleared of all charges.

On 15 February Simpson, Benzahi and Oliver-Rowland were all sentenced to life imprisonment. Benzahi must serve at least 22 years before parole, Oliver-Rowland must serve 20 years and Simpson must serve at least 18 years.