A teenager has been charged with the murder of a man who was shot dead near a nightclub in southeast London.
Tyler Roberts-Emmanuel, 18, is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today over the death of 30-year-old Shaquille Graham.
Mr Graham was shot in Catford Broadway at about 4.30am on 10 March and died at the scene after being found with a gunshot wound by paramedics.
Roberts-Emmanuel, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Met added Mr Graham’s family are being supported by police liaison officers.
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Mr Graham’s friend, Luke Wilson, told the Evening Standard: “I have lost my best friend. I’m devastated.
“This is so depressing for future generations. If people like Shaq are getting killed there’s no hope.
“Some people live on the edge and become dangerously involved in gangs… my friend was not one of those.”
The family of a 16-year-old who has been missing for more than a week have pleaded for her to “let someone know” she is safe.
Julia Skala left her house in south London at about 1pm on 8 January and has not been heard from since, with police increasingly concerned for her welfare.
Officers are “working around the clock” to track her down, the Met Police says, and has appealed for the public’s help.
Her family, from Mitcham, said Julia is “loved and missed terribly”.
“No matter what the reason was for you to leave, you aren’t in any kind of trouble and we just want to know you are safe,” they added.
“Please, just let someone know you are OK.”
She was last seen wearing a black North Face jacket, black trousers, white Nike trainers, and carrying a black Nike rucksack.
Police say they launched an investigation – which has included house-to-house inquiries and recovering CCTV – as soon as Julia’s mum reported her missing on the morning of 9 January.
The detective chief superintendent in charge of policing for Merton, Claire Kelland, said the force has gathered “hours of CCTV and doorbell footage” and spoken to “many people”.
Image: Julia Skala’s family has pleaded for her to communicate. Pic: Met Police handout
“Julia has never been away from home for this long and obviously her family are extremely worried,” she added.
“While there is no evidence to suggest she has come to harm, we are growing increasingly concerned about her welfare.
“She did not take her mobile phone with her and there has been no activity on social media or known contact with her friends.
“We also do not believe she had a credit or travel card, or any cash when she left the house.”
Read more on Sky News: Footage shows small boat attempting to cross Channel School banned prayer against backdrop of ‘violence and intimidation’
Julia, who lives in Mitcham, has links to Lambeth, Camden and Islington and it is possible she travelled to these places via public transport, police say.
Anyone with information should call police immediately on 999 quoting the reference 24MIS000879.
The teenager missing for six years before he was found in France said it feels “surreal” to be home and still goes to sleep not expecting to wake up in England.
Alex Batty was 11 when he went on holiday with his mother Melanie Batty – who does not have legal parental guardianship – and his grandfather David Batty, 59, in 2017.
He never returned and is said to have lived an “alternative” lifestyle abroad before deciding to return home.
A police investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance is ongoing.
Speaking to the Sun newspaper, the 17-year-old said he spent six years wandering around Europe with his mum and grandfather and first thought of leaving when he was 14.
He finally returned to the UK last weekend and says he is now staying with his grandmother in Oldham.
“Being back with my grandma feels quite surreal. Every time I go to sleep, I feel like I’m going to be waking up back in France. It’s not really kicked in yet that I am back in England,” he said.
“For the first few years, when I was in Spain, it was a vacation really, spending most days doing whatever I wanted, reading, drawing, going to the beach.”
He said he “started to pick up slack” at around 14, when he took up odd jobs in construction, decoration, painting walls and renovation work.
“I had a non-existent social life to be honest,” he said, adding he didn’t go to school and instead learned languages and studied maths and computing when he came across a textbook.
“And the entire six-year span, I made one friend and it was the only person really that I’d met for the entire six years that was even close to my age.”
Image: Alex Batty’s grandmother, Susan Caruana, pictured in 2017
Speaking about his mother, who he described as “anti-government, anti-vax”, Alex said: “She’s a great person and I love her but she’s just not a great mum.
“I had an argument with my mum and I just thought I’m gonna leave because I can’t live with her.”
“I realised it wasn’t a great way to live for my future,” he added.
“Moving around. No friends, no social life. Working, working, work and not studying. That’s the life I imagined I would be leading if I were to stay with my mum.”
According the Sun, Alex walked out of a rented house they were staying in near Chalabre, in southern France, and left a goodbye note on Monday last week.
He was picked up by chiropody student Fabien Accidini near the French city of Toulouse in the early hours of Wednesday – two days later.
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Student recalls rescuing Alex Batty
“He was delivering parcels so I helped him because it’s the least I could do,” Alex said.
“He let me use his phone to contact my grandma. After that he calls the police and a squad car nearby takes me to the nearest police station.”
After being looked after by the French authorities, Alex met his step-grandfather at Toulouse airport on Saturday before boarding a flight back to the UK, Greater Manchester Police said.
He can now look forward to spending time with family members, friends and others he grew up with in Greater Manchester, where he was living as a young boy and police say is “where he wants to be”.
Read more: Alex Batty’s mother ‘spent summer living in French caravan using fake identity’ Missing Alex Batty ‘had been staying in French guesthouse without his mother’
“When I got back to Manchester it was raining as usual,” he added.
“I was driven back to my gran’s house and I walked in the door and she’s in the living room. I started shaking and just gave her a massive hug.
“The house is different now but still feels the same.”
French prosecutors said last week that Melanie Batty may be in Finland.
A teenager found in France six years after he was reported missing has been reunited with his family and returned to the UK.
Alex Batty was 11 when he never returned from a holiday to Spain with his mother Melanie Batty, 38 – who does not have legal parental guardianship – and his grandfather David Batty, 59 in 2017.
Confirming his arrival, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle of Greater Manchester Police said: “Earlier today Alex met with a family member alongside Greater Manchester Police officers at Toulouse airport, before heading back to the UK.
“This moment is undoubtedly huge for him and his loved ones and we are glad that they have been able to see each other again after all this time.”
His grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana previously said she “can’t wait” to see him when he returns.
The whereabouts of his mother are not known at this time.
ACC Boyle said that while the French authorities have “disclosed detailed information” about where Alex has been for the last six years, GMP has not yet spoken to the teen.
“We are yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding his disappearance, but no matter what, understand that this may be an overwhelming process,” he said.
“He may now be six years older than when he went missing, but he is still a young person.”
The force will speak with Alex “at a pace that feels comfortable to him” to determine whether a criminal investigation into his disappearance will ensue.
“Our continued focus is supporting Alex and his family in partnership with other local agencies to ensure they are safe, their wellbeing is looked after, and his reintegration with society is as easy as possible,” said ACC Boyle.
Alex found ‘walking alone’
Alex was found by chiropractic student Fabien Accidini while walking alone near Toulouse in the early hours of Wednesday.
Image: Fabien Accidini, the delivery driver who picked up the missing Briton
Ms Caruana, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, said on Friday: “I cannot begin to express my relief and happiness that Alex has been found safe and well.
“I spoke with him last night and it was so good to hear his voice and see his face again. I can’t wait to see him when we’re reunited.
“The main thing is that he’s safe, after what would be an overwhelming experience for anyone, not least a child.”
Image: Alex Batty’s grandmother, Susan Caruana, pictured in 2017
She asked for privacy as the family welcomed Alex back.
It is thought Alex had been living an “alternative” lifestyle with his mother and grandfather across Spain, Morocco and France while he was missing.
French officials said he decided to leave when his mother wanted to go to Finland.
Mr Accidini said the teenager told him he had been hiking in nearby mountains for more than four days in an attempt to return to England.
Read more: What happened to Alex Batty? ‘The middle of nowhere road’ where Alex was found Fabien says Alex ‘wants to live a normal life’
Image: Views of the road in Toulouse where the teenager was found
On Friday, French prosecutors said the teenager’s mother, Melanie Batty, who is wanted in connection with his disappearance, may be in Finland, while his grandfather David Batty has died.
Prosecutor Antoine Leroy said Alex had said he knew his way of life with his mother “had to stop” after she announced an intention to move to Finland.
This led him to walk for “four days and four nights” across the Pyrenees, Mr Leroy said.
Alex was described as “tired” but “in good health” after being checked over by French officials and seemed “intelligent” even though he had not attended school for six years.
The prosecutor also said the boy did not appear to have been subjected to any physical violence.
Binyamin Needham, a 19-year-old British national, has been killed in Gaza while fighting for the IDF.
Mr Needham, who had dual nationality, moved to Israel with his family 10 years ago, and is understood to be the second British national after Nathanel Young to have been killed whilst serving in the IDF since the 7 October attacks.
The soldier was born in England and was the youngest of five children, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said.
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Explosions rock Gaza
Mr Needham, who was from Zichron Yaakov, fought with the 601st Battalion of the Combat Engineering Corps, the Times of Israel said.
Israeli officials said he had only been in the GazaStrip for two days when he was killed in action and celebrated his birthday two weeks ago, according to The Mirror.
Follow live: IDF operations in northern Gaza ‘nearly complete’
His sister, Orli Ferris, told the paper he was “a wonderful, wonderful brother”.
“We loved him with all our hearts and we always will. He will be missed by all of us and so many others, but we will always make sure we remember him in our hearts,” she said.
“Nothing will be the same now, but we are all very proud of what he did and he was also proud of what he was doing.
“He had just finished his apprenticeship and was doing his professional training.
“We don’t know the exact details of what happened but he was only in Gaza for two days. He went in on Friday and died Sunday.”
Image: A woman mourning in Gaza. Pic provided by Stuart Ramsay.
The teenager was one of three soldiers who died in combat operations in Gaza on Sunday, the IDF said on Monday.
The other two soldiers were named as Neriya Shaer and Ben Zussman.
Read more: US shoots down drones as ships caught in missile attack Decomposing bodies of babies ‘seen in hospital footage’
More than 15,500 Palestinians and more than 1,200 Israelis have been reported killed in the fighting since 7 October, according to the UN.
The IDF has said 401 Israeli soldiers have been killed, 75 of those during the ground offensive inside Gaza.
A machete-wielding teenager who threatened to behead singer Aled Jones as he robbed the star of his £17,000 Rolex watch has been locked up.
The 52-year-old Welsh baritone was walking along a street in west London with his son on 7 July when the 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, attacked him.
Having spotted the Daytona Rolex on Mr Jones’s arm the teenager pointed a machete in his face and told him to remove the watch, Ealing Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday.
When he noticed the singer was still following him after handing over his Rolex the attacker warned: “Walk the other way or I will cut your head off.”
The youth was handed a 24-month detention and training order – having turned up late for court a second time.
Chairman of the bench Rex Da Rocha told him his record was “appalling”, adding: “Your actions are not acceptable.
“Pointing that machete at an innocent person is totally unacceptable.”
Image: The Welsh singer was walking with his son when the robbery took place
Read more: Factory worker who contaminated food supplied to Nando’s jailed Trial date set for teenager accused of murdering schoolgirl
CCTV was collected from the area after the robbery and the teenager was arrested at his west London home.
At the time of his arrest he was wearing a black Nike tracksuit and his trainers were the ones he was wearing in the footage. A machete was found in his room.
Mr Jones’s son later picked the attacker out in an identity parade.
When asked if he wished to address the court about his actions the teenager said: “I don’t think I need to say anything.”
The boy previously stole a gold Rolex watch worth £20,000 from a man in his 70s at Paddington station in west London, the court heard.
He had been due to stand trial for robbing Mr Jones at Wimbledon Youth Court in August but pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon – having arrived late with his trial already under way.
A man who raped a teenager five months before she was murdered by her brother has been jailed for 10 years and six months.
Jamie Starrs, 20, assaulted Amber Gibson and raped her while she was asleep or unconscious at a property in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, in June 2021.
Amber, 16, was sexually assaulted and murdered in November 2021 by her brother, Connor Gibson, who was convicted last month following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Starrs was found guilty of raping the teenager following a separate trial at the High Court in Lanark in July.
He was also convicted of raping another teenage girl in Bothwell in May 2021.
Judge Thomas Welsh KC handed Starrs an extended sentence comprising 10 and a half years in custody and two years of supervision upon release at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Sentencing Starrs, who appeared via video link from custody, the judge said: “You have been convicted of appalling crimes against two innocent teenage girls and you have been assessed as being of very high risk of sexual violence on release.
“I am required to take into account your age and difficult upbringing. However, the crimes remain serious and grave, and I will impose an extended sentence.”
He said that he would have ordered 11 years to be served in custody but reduced this to 10 and a half years behind bars to take into account the time that Starrs has spent on remand.
Starrs was also found guilty of a breach of bail conditions, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He has been placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Giving a plea in mitigation, Michael Meehan KC, representing Starrs, highlighted that as he is under 25 the sentence must take into account sentencing guidelines which reflect that a younger person will have a lower level of maturity than an older person.
Read more: The guidelines for sentencing under-25s in Scotland Amber Gibson murder: Independent care review set to be concluded
He said a report identified that Starrs shows “cognitive and emotional immaturity”.
The lawyer had also urged the judge to consider his client’s adverse childhood experiences when sentencing.
He told the court that Starrs was removed from parental care at the age of three and developed addiction issues from the age of nine.
Mr Meehan said: “He has a traumatic background from a young age which perhaps gives some degree of explanation.”
The sentencing comes a fortnight after Connor Gibson, 20, was convicted of attacking his sister Amber in woodland in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, in November 2021, removing her clothes, sexually assaulting with the intention of raping her, inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body, and strangling her.
Amber was reported missing on the evening of Friday 26 November and her body was discovered in Cadzow Glen at about 10.10am on 28 November.
Stephen Corrigan, 45, was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and breach of the peace by intimately touching and concealing Amber’s body after discovering it, instead of contacting the emergency services.
Gibson will be sentenced on 4 September for a crime Judge Lord Mulholland described as “depraved”, while Corrigan will also be sentenced next month.
The family of a teenager who died after a stabbing have paid tribute to a “compassionate, loving and funny young man” who had a “bright future ahead of him”.
Matthew Daulby, 19, from Liverpool, died in hospital following an “altercation” in Ormskirk town centre in Lancashire.
Detectives have now opened a murder investigation.
Police were called to an “ongoing disturbance” in Railway Road at 12.05am on Saturday, and Matthew was found nearby. A second 19-year-old man was also treated in hospital for stab injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening.
Image: Railway Road. Pic: Google
His family said: “Matthew was the most compassionate, loving and funny young man with a bright future ahead of him.
“He adored his family, and cared for them with utmost loyalty. He loved spending time with them and gave his love so generously, making sure everyone knew how much he loved them.
“He had a zest for life and was always looking forward to holidays with his family and friends. He was surrounded by love from his family and we will miss him every day, for the rest of our lives.”
A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of Matthew’s death will take place “in due course”, Lancashire Constabulary said.
A 19-year-old man from Liverpool and a 19-year-old man from Melling, in Merseyside, have been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in police custody.
Detectives looking to identify a number of people
The arrests relate to an altercation in Railway Road involving a number of males, police said.
Officers are asking for anyone with information, or CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage which could help their investigation, to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows, from the force’s major investigation team, said it was being treated as an “isolated incident” despite the earlier fight in Railway Road.
He said: “This incident has resulted in a young man losing his life and first and foremost my thoughts are with Matthew’s loved ones at this time.”
