Five gang members who took part in a brawl that resulted in a man being knifed to death at Westfield Stratford City weeks before the Olympics have been jailed.

Violence flared as a Walthamstow gang clashed with rivals in Stratford on June 29.

The gangs were said to have been locked in a turf war over the newly-opened shopping centre and fighting broke out when glasses and a yoghurt pot were thrown.

Liam Woodards was stabbed in the chest, but managed to walk around for a few minutes before collapsing in front of shoppers.

The 24-year-old, who was out celebrating his birthday at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The vicrim’s friends, Danny Caton, 24, Michael Ndefo, 22, and Rhys Regisford, 21, then hunted down rival gang members.

They found Michael Alvarange, 24, and Javin Rigabie, 23, at Stratford station.

Ndefo used a knife to stab Alvaranga repeatedly in the shoulder, while Regisford took off his belt and used it to beat Rigabie.

Nii-Azu Kojo-Smith denied the murder of Mr Woodards and an Old Bailey jury was unable to reach a verdict. He faces a retrial in September.

Riaz Anderson, 19, of Essex Close, Walthamstow, and Tristan Mullings, 21, of Isledon Road, Holloway, were both jailed on Friday for 20 months after admitting violent disorder.

Danny Caton, 24, of Paul Street, Stratford, was sentenced to 34 months for the same offence.
Alvaranga, 24, of Cookes Close in Leytonstone, recovered from his injuries and faces a retrial for violent disorder.

Michael Ndefo, 22, of Raymond Road, Plaistow, and Rhys Regisford, 21, of Hyde Close in Plaistow, were both jailed for the same offence.

Judge Stephen Kramer QC said “This incident in Westfield took some two-and-a-half minutes but it appeared to last a long time to those unwittingly caught up in it.

“Those who engage in this type of mindless, needless and potentially dangerous violence in public must expect to receive custodial sentences.”

He told Caton, Ndefo and Regisford: 'Each of you lost a friend that day.

“That was upsetting for you but although it may explain it does not excuse the violent behaviour in which each you engaged.”