Josiah Semper and Bernard Carrol stabbed Taye Faik to death in October last year

Josiah Semper (left) and Bernard Carrol (right) murdered Taye Faik (centre)

Two men have been jailed for at least 22 years after being found guilty of murdering a teenager in Edmonton last year.

Bernard Carroll, aged 20 and of Church Street in Enfield, and Josiah James Semper, aged 19 and of Cromie Close in Palmers Green, pursued and fatally stabbed 16-year-old Taye Faik as he fled towards his home on 1st October 2023.

Both were found guilty of Taye’s murder following the conclusion of a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court last week and, yesterday (22nd), were sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum term of 22 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, said: “This was a shocking and brutal attack on a teenage boy who was yards from his front door.

“Semper was armed with a flick knife and inflicted the fatal wound, while Carroll drove the car to Kendal Gardens, fully in the knowledge that Semper was armed and in no doubt that significant violence would take place. It was evident from the investigation that there was a significant degree of planning involved.

“Taye’s family have had to endure the trauma of losing him and then hearing evidence of the attack throughout the trial process. While nothing can be done to ease their pain, I hope that the fact Carroll and Semper have been held to account for their part in Taye’s murder brings them a small degree of comfort.

“This conviction and the subsequent sentence should demonstrate the serious consequences and loss of life that is associated with carrying a knife. The sentencing today should act as a deterrent to anyone else in possession of such dangerous weapons.”

An investigation was launched after police were called at 11.27pm on 1st October 2023 to reports of a stabbing in Kendal Gardens, Edmonton. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, Taye died at the scene.

Taye had been out walking his dog and was yards from his home when he was attacked by at least two occupants who had got out of a waiting car. Witnesses reported hearing the attack and seeing the car driving at speed as it left the area. Taye made it back to his house where he collapsed in the hallway, fatally injured.

Detectives quickly began to piece together the events of that evening, initially using CCTV to plot the movements of a car that the attackers had used.

This car was later found abandoned in a nearby car park – it was on false registration plates and had been stolen a couple of weeks earlier.

A thorough investigation enabled officers to plot the movements of the vehicle and its occupants on the day Taye was attacked and fatally injured.

Bernard Carroll was arrested on 6th November after officers tracked him down to an address in Edmonton. He refused to answer any questions about the attack on Taye.

Josiah Semper had fled to Antigua shortly after the murder, but was arrested when he returned to the UK on 17th November. Again, when questioned about the attack on Taye, he declined to answer any questions.

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