Dean Pascal-Modeste murder: Life sentence for two killers in Mottingham murder

Alex Scott and Corey Donaldson, both from Deptford, stabbed Dean Pascal-Modeste to death in the middle of the street in broad daylight on February 24.

Officers covering the case believe Dean "was not the intended target" of the two killers, both aged 18, and that his death had simply been a case of mistaken identity.

The Old Bailey heard how Dean had travelled to Mottingham with two friends from his home in Barking.

As they stood in Lambscroft Avenue, a gang of men arrived on mopeds with one of them brandishing what Dean's friends described as a handgun.

The friends ran off but Dean was caught by the gang in nearby Charlesfield street and repeatedly stabbed.

Police and the London Ambulance Service arrived at the scene shortly after 3.45pm but, despite their best efforts, Dean was pronounced dead at the scene.

Forensic studies of the knives found in a nearby garden, phone logs and CCTV footage were all used to bring the two teenagers to justice.

Scott, of Ludwick Mews, and Donaldson, of Abinger Grove, pleaded not guilty but were convicted following a trial on November 17 at the Old Bailey. They were each sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years to serve in prison.

Uzoeme Emeofa, 18, of Bromley Road in Bromley, was found not guilty at the same time.

Following the case, Det Insp Richard Leonard of the Met's homicide and major crime command, said:"I honestly believe that Dean was not the intended target of Scott and Donaldson. He did not live in the Mottingham area and from what we know had no associations with the locality.

"However, it appears the defendants were involved in a dispute with Dean's friends and they attacked Dean merely because he was with them that day.

"This was a brutal attack carried out in broad daylight in front of shocked residents - Dean simply didn't stand a chance.

"I can only hope that today's sentencing can help his family begin to move on from this horrific chapter in their lives."