Life for Hackney Towpath Walk murderer

IN MARCH, Rowmando Lewis (28) murdered Tyrone Silcott (41) on Towpath Lane, E9, on the Hackney side of its border with Tower Hamlets. Last month, Lewis was jailed for life at Snaresbrook Crown Court, with an Order that he serve at least 21 years.

The Court heard that on 18th March, Lewis and Silcott had been to a party in a house on Towpath Walk. Silcott and a woman at the party began arguing over the use of a microphone. Lewis became involved in the argument, which then continued between Lewis and Silcott outside the house.

A witness described how they had seen Lewis push Silcott on the chest and Silcott push him back – after which Lewis produced a knife from his waist area, took it out of its case and used it to stab Silcott. Lewis then left the scene and headed towards the car park area of Poplar Close.

Police, the London Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance came to the scene but, despite the best efforts of medical staff, Silcott was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was later established as loss of blood from a stab wound in his neck. He had a second stab wound on his right shoulder.

Lewis was next seen in a Smart car which crashed, shortly after the stabbing, into traffic lights on Ponsford Street, Hackney. Passers-by who went to help him reported that he had been covered in blood that did not appear to be his own. Lewis ran off from the scene of the crash.

Police officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command soon established that Lewis was a suspect and began trying to find him. He turned himself in at a police station on 20th March and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was charged with murder the following day

Detective Inspector John Marriott of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said, “It is hard to believe that a man has lost his life over such a trivial incident. This was a minor argument the led to a man being stabbed to death and the victim’s friends and family being left devastated. Those who carry knives and use them must face the consequences of their actions. The Met is determined that those who use knives will be found, arrested and brought to account. Today Lewis has been found guilty and now faces a long time in prison; it is thoroughly deserved.”

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