Raekwon Hanniford-Brown, a 23-year-old drug dealer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years for the murder of Errol McKay, a 49-year-old man who was stabbed 24 times in a knife attack in Wandsworth, London. The attack occurred on July 27 at McKay’s flat, where the two men had a physical fight that escalated into a fatal confrontation.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Hanniford-Brown and McKay had an agreement where Hanniford-Brown would store drugs in McKay’s flat in exchange for crack cocaine. However, on the night of the attack, an argument broke out between the two men, which ended with McKay sustaining fatal wounds. The pair had been friends, but the agreement and the argument that led to the fight were not detailed in public.
Hanniford-Brown was arrested at Gatwick Airport on July 28, a day after the attack, and was charged with murder the following day. Forensic examiners found extensive bloodstaining in the lounge and kitchen of the flat, as well as a bloody handprint in the bedroom that linked to Hanniford-Brown’s fingerprints. The knife used in the attack was later found, and Hanniford-Brown tried to dispose of it.
Raekwon Hanniford-Brown
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Semple said that Hanniford-Brown claimed to have acted in self-defense and that he suffered from PTSD and a phobia of knives, but the evidence suggested otherwise. Semple stated that the severity of the wounds, mobile phone data, and Hanniford-Brown’s efforts to distance himself from the incident all pointed to a more sinister motive.
Errol McKay was described by his family as “humble, funny, and affectionate,” a kind-hearted man who prioritized family. His family has expressed mixed emotions about Hanniford-Brown’s sentencing, with some forgiving and others not able to forgive.
The murder has left a legacy of love and heartbreak, and the family hopes that the sentence will bring some closure. Hanniford-Brown’s life sentence and 19-year minimum term serve as a reminder of the devastating consequences of violent crimes and the importance of justice being served.
