Jail for four who assisted cover-up after Blackbird Leys murder

The quartet included the former partners of Christopher Lemonius’ killers, Otman Lamzini and Carlos Spencer, and a woman who went to the Blackbird Leys house dubbed ‘Conspiracy Central’ by prosecutors.

They helped Lamzini and Spencer flee Oxford in the wake of the 2017 murder. The men were at large for four months.

Jailing Kimesha Bennett, Sasha McMahon, Korine Forbes and Barry O’Loughlin at Oxford Crown Court on Friday afternoon, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: “Let the message go out loud and clear those who assist those suspected of committing very serious offences – and it can get no more serious than murder – are likely to lose their liberty.”

Christopher Lemonius Picture: FAMILY/TVP 

Mr Lemonius, 27, was chased by a gang to a house on Jourdain Road on June 1, 2017. He was hacked to death by the group, who were armed with machetes, golf clubs and pieces of wood.

During the killers’ trial in 2018, it was suggested that one motive for the attack could have been ‘revenge’. One of those responsible for Mr Lemonius' death was assaulted in the weeks leading up to the murder.

In the wake of the murder a cover-up operation was launched to try and hide the true extent of the night’s events. Four men were later given life sentences after they were convicted of Mr Lemonius’ murder, while a fifth was jailed for 10 years for manslaughter.

On Friday, three women and one man were the latest to appear before the crown court in connection with the case.

Korine Forbes, 30, was at a house in Astrop Lane – dubbed ‘Conspiracy Central’ by prosecutors – in the wake of the killing along with a large number of others. Within five minutes of police arriving at the murder scene, her phone had called a mobile belonging to 33-year-old Sasha McMahon – the girlfriend of Otman Lamzini.

McMahon allowed Otman Lamzini to stay the night at her house. The next day, she used Forbes’ telephone to make a hotel reservation then drove Lamzini there. He was picked up by Barry O’Loughlin, 44, and driven to London, where he was visited by his girlfriend on at least two occasions in the months following the killing.

Carlos Spencer’s then partner, Kimesha Bennett, 27, picked him up after the murder. He stayed at her home for three or four days. Phone records showed she’d accessed the Oxford Mail website regularly in the wake of Mr Lemonius’ death.

She was aware he had travelled from Oxford to Birmingham and had given him new phones.

Carlos Spencer and Otman Lamzini's custody shots Picture: THAMES VALLEY POLICE

Sentencing the group, Judge Pringle said he had given anxious consideration to the fact all four were dedicated parents, there had been delay in the case being sentenced and they had remained out of trouble.

However, he concluded that appropriate punishment could only be achieved by immediate imprisonment.

“On the night of June 1, 2017, Christopher Lemonius, a man of just 27 years of age, was pursued and they savagely attacked by a group of young men in the back gardens and alleyway in Blackbird Leys in Oxford,” the judge said.

“There is no doubt that they intended to carry out a very violent murder. Witness heard them say as much. A machete, knives and large sticks were used to carry out the murder.

“In due course a jury at this crown court unanimously convicted four men of his murder and one of his manslaughter.

“All of the suspects in the ensuing police investigation following the murder were [identified].

“Two of them, Carlos Spencer and Otman Lamzini were not arrested for four months. Why was that?

“It was in part because of the behaviour of you four, who provided crucial assistance to both of them in avoiding being arrested by the police or ensuring that any incriminating evidence was disposed of.”

Judge Ian Pringle QC 

McMahon, Headington, pleaded guilty on a basis to perverting the course of justice. Sophia Dower, mitigating, said her client was ‘utterly ashamed of the decision that she took in 2017’. She added: “She knows that she’s let herself down and her family down, whom she is close to.”

Forbes, of Starwort Path, Oxford, Bennett, of Three Fields, Oxford, and O’Loughlin, of Sandy Lane, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice. All were said to be remorseful and all had children who would be affected by their incarceration. Their lawyers asked the judge to consider imposing suspended sentences.

Judge Pringle sentenced Bennett to nine months’ imprisonment, O’Loughlin and Forbes received six months and McMahon was jailed for four months.

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