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Fake Groom’s Brutal Stabbing of Hero Son in £50k Sham Marriage Scam: Life Sentence for Murder in Blood-Soaked London Flat.

  • Writer: Bénédict Tarot Freeman
    Bénédict Tarot Freeman
  • Jul 16, 2024
  • 4 min read

Hi and welcome to this Video Production News Court Report.



Man Jailed for Life for Murder in Sham Marriage Scam:


In a disturbing and complex case that began on November 17, 2020, Jurick Croes has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 25-year-old Riches Obi in Southwark. This crime, deeply rooted in a sham marriage scheme, has resulted in significant prison terms for Croes and his accomplices, highlighting the devastating consequences of criminal activities masked as legitimate operations.


Croes, 38, of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey on July 12. He received a 30-year sentence for murder, with a reduction for 877 days already served, and a concurrent nine-year sentence for false imprisonment. His co-conspirators, Raichell Felomina and Suvenca Martis, also faced lengthy sentences for their roles in the crime.


The incident unfolded when Croes, along with Felomina and Martis, broke into the home of Bernadette Ortet, a case worker for an immigration and nationality law firm, expecting to rob her. Croes had initially been paid £500 for his participation in a sham marriage but anticipated a sum of £50,000. When this expectation was not met, Croes devised a plan to extort the money from Ms. Ortet. During the home invasion, Ms. Ortet's son, Riches Obi, attempted to protect her and was subsequently fatally stabbed.


Police were alerted to a stabbing at Harper Road near Elephant and Castle. Upon arrival, officers found the front door partially open and Riches Obi collapsed in the blood-stained hallway with stab and slash wounds to his chest. Despite the paramedics' swift response, Riches was pronounced dead at the scene.


An officer called out to check for other individuals in the flat and heard Ms. Ortet's voice saying, "I’m here." Following her voice, they discovered her in a bedroom, her wrists and ankles bound with cable ties, and a scarf used as a gag around her neck. The room was heavily stained with blood on the bed, door, furniture, walls, and ceiling. An examination of the flat revealed that Mr. Obi’s bedroom appeared to have been searched, and a roll of duct tape was found under a chair.


The investigation was led by Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. It revealed a wealth of evidence linking the trio to the crime. Martis was caught on CCTV purchasing cable ties and black tape from a hardware store in Camberwell, South London. DNA analysis of the murder weapons found at the scene matched both Felomina and Croes. Additional forensic evidence included DNA traces on envelopes and cable ties, and Croes' blood inside the hire car used by Martis.


Following a retrial, Croes was found guilty of Mr. Obi’s murder and the false imprisonment of his mother. On Friday, Judge Nigel Lickley described the crime as the “vicious and savage” murder of a defenceless man in his own home. Croes was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 30 years. Felomina, 40, received seven years and six months for false imprisonment, with eligibility for release after five years and four months, followed by deportation. Martis, 35, was sentenced to a total of 11 years and six months for false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice, with three years and four months served on remand. She will also face deportation.


Martis, a hairdresser turned model agency entrepreneur, was found to be a “willing and active” participant in the plan, according to Judge Lickley. Additionally, she was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, to be served concurrently, for five counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply, including MDMA, heroin, cocaine, and other substances.


Ms. Ortet, currently in Nigeria, provided a victim impact statement detailing her immense trauma and grief. She condemned the “heartless” defendants, expressing that her son was killed in the “most gruesome manner” and “slaughtered like an animal.” She described Riches as the “cornerstone” of the family, a selfless gentleman who lived a life of “highest values.” She added, “My mind knows nothing but trauma and terror. I lost the full function of my neck since I was assaulted.”


Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC emphasized the background of the offences, revealing that the defendants were engaged in a sham marriage scheme with Ms. Ortet. Discontent with their compensation, the trio decided to demand and obtain money from her forcibly. The court also heard that all three defendants had previous convictions in the Netherlands for various offences, including theft, threats to kill, unauthorized firearms, and drug smuggling.


DCI Matt Webb praised the intricate investigation and international cooperation that led to the capture and conviction of the perpetrators. Felomina was arrested in Holland and extradited to the UK in November 2021, while Croes was apprehended in Colombia and extradited back to the UK after an 18-month process. DCI Webb stated, “We utilized every international co-operation tool available to us in order to bring them back to the UK to face the consequences of their actions. My thoughts today are with Riches' family. They have waited many years to see justice done, and it is my sincere wish that they may now find a way to move forward and cherish their memories of Riches without the spectre of this despicable crime hanging over them.”


This case serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive nature of criminal schemes and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to ensure that justice is served.


Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.


**Bénédict Tarot Freeman

Editor-at-Large

VPN City-Desk

 
 
 

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