LEYTONSTONE: Teenage killers fail in freedom bid (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LEYTONSTONE: Teenage killers fail in freedom bid

5:11pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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TWO teenagers jailed for murdering 14-year-old Paul Erhahon have failed in an attempt to get their convictions quashed.

Paul Benfield, 18, of Corn Way, and Kevin Adu-Marcet. 16, of Cathall Road, both Leytonstone, were handed life sentences, with a minimum term of 13 years, for the killing on Good Friday three years ago.

Legal representatives for the pair argued their convictions were unsafe due to a high proportion of evidence being given anonymously during the trial.

But the Court of Appeal has decided against overturning the convictions.

Scott Taylor, 20, of Melon Road, Leytonstone, had his appeal against his conviction for the attempted murder of Paul's 15-year-old friend rejected, and also failed to get his minimum term of six-and-a-half years cut.

Jordan Conn, of Greenford, west London, had his murder sentence reduced from 11 to nine years, while Nathan Desnoes, 17, of Borthwick Road, West Ham, was originally jailed for eight years but an added four-year period on licence has now been revoked.

Paul Erhahon and his 15-year-old friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were attacked by a 15-strong gang brandishing baseball bats, a samurai sword, knives and a chain in the foyer of Gean Court in Leytonstone.

Paul was found bleeding to death in Hall Road, near to his home in Buttermere Close.

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