Leo Marcus knife murder: Shackim Purnell-Taylor jailed

A robber has been jailed for life for murdering a man in a knife attack in south-east London.

Drug dealer Shackim Purnell-Taylor stabbed 22-year-old Leo Marcus in the heart during the attack in Woolwich on 10 July last year.

The Old Bailey heard the unarmed victim suffered 14 separate injuries during the planned robbery.

Purnell-Taylor, 19, of Gunyard Mews, Greenwich, had denied murder but was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years.

He also received sentences of six years and three months for robbery and 21 months for possession of a knife, having admitted those offences at the start of his trial.

Both of them are to be served concurrently with the sentence for murder.

Purnell-Taylor is thought to have received a phone call informing him a drugs courier would be in the area where the attack took place.

He confronted Mr Marcus and tried to take his rucksack, but the victim fought back and was stabbed multiple times.

Mr Marcus's rucksack, which was left at the scene when Purnell-Taylor fled, contained cash along with one large and 12 small bags of cannabis.

Judge Rebecca Poulet told Purnell-Taylor he had involved himself in the world of drugs and "that led you to rob another dealer and then to murder him".

Det Sgt Rob Tickle, who led the investigation, said Mr Marcus was "the victim of an opportunistic and violent street robber".

He added: "Leo's death was a horrific tragedy for him and for his family, a waste of a promising, young life.

"His family's dignity throughout this process has been deeply impressive to any of us who have seen it."

Purnell-Taylor was also sentenced to 36 months, to be served concurrently, for separate offences of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.