Boy, 17, jailed 17 years after wall of silence’ murder hunt

A 17-YEAR-old youth has been jailed for 17 years after being convicted of schoolboy Steven Lewis’s murder in East London in which detectives were hit by a wall of silence.’ Chris Mazekelua was back at the Old Bailey for sentencing yesterday after being found guilty of murder by a jury last month

By Mike Brooke

A 17-YEAR-old youth has been jailed for 17 years after being convicted of schoolboy Steven Lewis's murder in East London in which detectives were hit by a 'wall of silence.'

Chris Mazekelua was back at the Old Bailey for sentencing yesterday after being found guilty of murder by a jury on October 15. Reporting restrictions prohibiting naming him were lifted by the judge.

The sentencing of a second youth aged 18 convicted with him has been postponed until December 7.

Steven (pictured) died at the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel on January 24, just one hour after a police patrol found him stabbed in the chest in Whitwell Road in Plaistow. A large group of youths fled on seeing the officers.

The investigation was hampered at an early stage by a "no snitching" culture.

"There was a lack of co-operation by 300 young people who were present at the scene," said Det Chief Ins Stephen Clayman.

"Many refused to speak to police and many of those who did were simply not prepared to provide any evidence. They were clearly influenced by a 'don't snitch' culture."

Steven's stabbing highlighted "a willingness for some youths to arm themselves with weapons and use them with fatal consequences," he added.

Police found several discarded knives in and around the scene, including a machete.