Nashon Esbrand murder: Young father stabbed to death by teenager for 'grassing' on London gang

Jack Stevens found guilty after ‘desperately trying to evade justice’, say police

Jack Stevens (PA)

A teenager has become the fourth person to be convicted of the murder of a young father who stood up to a north London gang.

Jack Stevens fled to Spain after 27-year-old Nashon Esbrand, a new father to a two-week-old daughter, was chased through the streets of Islington and fatally stabbed for being a “grass”.

The 19-year-old was extradited back to Britain to face trial at the Old Bailey for the 2017 killing.

A member of the victim’s family said “yes” and burst into tears as the guilty verdict was given on Wednesday.

Adjourning his sentencing until 22 March, Judge Anuja Dhir QC said: “In law there is only one sentence for the offence of murder but I will have to decide what the minimum term will be in your case.”

The court had heard how the victim had clashed with members of the north London Cally Gang or Cally Boyz in the past – and had warned police his life was in danger.

On 1 March, 2017, five months before his murder, Mr Esbrand was involved in a violent altercation involving Stevens and members of the gang.

He told officers he had been targeted by the Cally Boyz because he had gone to police about a previous issue.

“I’ve spoken to the police and co-operated with the police and I’ve got loads of threats because of that so they’re coming to maybe hurt me because of this,” Mr Esbrand had said.

Mitchison Road in Islington, where Nashon Esbrand was killed (Google Maps)

But on the evening of 24 August, the young father was said to be “relaxed and happy” when he visited his parents home in Islington with his girlfriend and his two-week-old baby girl.

After dropping his girlfriend and baby back at their home, he then set off to return to his parent’s house to pick up his car. En route, Mr Esbrand was spotted by Stevens and Dillon Zambon, the court heard.

Stevens called for reinforcements to co-ordinate a violent attack before Mr Esbrand was chased by youths on bicycles through the back streets.

The victim was cornered in Mitchison Road and attacked at 6.50pm. He had alerted his father as he fled and reacted with “horror, terror and fear” when he was stabbed from behind by a boy armed with a large knife.

His father rushed to the scene and joined neighbours in a desperate bid to save his bleeding son.

Mr Esbrand had suffered stab wounds to the legs, including one which sliced through his femoral artery. He died in hospital in the early hours of the next day.

The unnamed stabber, now aged 17, has admitted murder, while Zambon, 21, and Jhon Berhane, 19, were found guilty following a trial last March.

Stevens admitted being present but denied being involved in the murder.

Detective Sergeant Lee Tullett, of Scotland Yard, said: “Today, Jack Stevens has been forced to face the consequences of his actions after desperately trying to evade justice.

“Stevens was part of a gang who pursued Nashon through the streets in broad daylight, before he was cornered and fatally stabbed.

“The trauma of the night will surely live with his family forever. Nashon was a new father and his family has been devastated by this senseless killing.

“The Met is determined to arrest those responsible for murder and bring them to justice no matter where they try to hide.”

Additional reporting by Press Association