Gang leader 'took no part in drug killing’'

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Gang leader 'took no part in drug killing’'

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Anthony Ogazi

A GANG leader who set up a drug robbery claims he took no part in the victim’s killing.

Peter “Peewee” Reis-Relvas, 20, admitted at the Old Bailey that he gave the order to steal cannabis from student Anthony Ogazi.

But he said he was not involved in the masked gang’s fatal stabbing of the 21-year-old in a communal garden.

He told the court the killers were Aaron Kendall, 21, of Bedwell House, Stockwell Park, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

It is alleged that they were in a gang of seven Reis-Relvas led to the Walworth flat of drug dealer Richard Barry on May 7 last year.

The court heard Reis-Relvas had arranged to buy nine ounces of cannabis from Mr Barry for £700.

But he had planned to steal the drugs along with Sebastian Garcia, 18, of Gibbon Road, Southwark, and Demetre Fogo, 18, of Purser House, Brixton.

Reis-Relvas, of Lockwood House, Kennington, said he, Garcia and a second 17-year-old waited in the flat for Mr Ogazi to deliver the drugs to Mr Barry.

Four others – Kendall, Fogo, the first 17-year-old and a 16-year-old – waited outside, he said.

The court heard when Mr Ogazi pushed only two ounces of cannabis in the window, Reis-Relvas texted the gang members outside to mug him.

He told the court: “Mr Ogazi was at the window to Mr Barry’s flat and I sent a text message to Mr Fogo saying to rob the guy at the window.”

He said he grabbed the cannabis and went outside, where he saw Kendall and the 17-year-old punching and kicking Mr Ogazi.

The prosecution alleges that Reis-Relvas, who has two convictions for carrying knives in public, joined in the attack.

Prosecutor Peter Kyte QC said that witnesses in the Olney Road flats had seen six or seven people attacking Mr Ogazi.

Mr Ogazi, from Stockwell, was a music management student at Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe.

All seven defendants deny murder.

All but Reis-Relvas and Fogo deny conspiring to rob Mr Ogazi.

The trial continues.

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