Three Men Jailed for Life Over Violent Haringey Murder 2026

Key Points

• Fatal Assault: Gregory Castillo Volquez, 36, was stabbed 22 times and assaulted with a medical crutch, a nail-embedded plank, and an arsenal of knives in Haringey.
• Life Sentences Handed Down: Carlos Akum Metumbe (22), Luiggi Perelli Santana (22), and Benito Ramirez Kones (20) have been handed life sentences at Southwark Crown Court.
• International Extradition: Metumbe and Santana fled the UK to Spain post-offence and were extradited back to London in August and October 2025 respectively.
• Pre-Existing Offence History: Santana was on court bail for possessing a machete, while Kones was serving a suspended sentence for carrying a locking knife at the time of the murder.

Haringey (North London News) September 5, 2026 – Three men who ambushed, stabbed, and bludgeoned a father-of-two to death in an alleyway outside a residential block of flats have been jailed for life at Southwark Crown Court.

Why Were the Three Men Jailed for Life?

As reported by Pol Allingham and Ellie Gosley of Wales Online, Benito Ramirez Kones, 20, Carlos Akum Metumbe, 22, and Luiggi Perelli Santana, 22, received life sentences following the murder of 36-year-old Gregory Castillo Volquez. The victim was subjected to a violent combined attack using an arsenal of bladed weapons, a medical crutch, and a plank embedded with nails on Tiverton Road, Haringey.

As detailed in Wales Online, Mr Justice Bourne KC told Southwark Crown Court that “this was a truly wicked crime committed by very dangerous men”. Addressing the trio directly, the judge observed:

“In my judgment, none of you have shown any real remorse for what you did – you each chose to contest this case and I am unable to reduce the sentences in the absence of guilty pleas”.

How Did the Violent Ambush Take Place?

As reported by Alastair Lockhart of The Standard, Mr Castillo Volquez, a Dominican Republic national living in London, had been out drinking with a friend in South London venues across Brixton and Elephant and Castle before travelling to Haringey in the early hours of 13 January 2025. The court heard that neither the victim nor his friend was armed.

Upon entering a communal block of flats on the Tiverton Estate, the men were set upon. CCTV footage from the location showed the defendants moving towards Mr Castillo Volquez. As reported by Wales Online, the judge highlighted that the attackers launched a assault “armed with the hospital crutch and a machete”. The victim attempted to retreat into an alleyway and car park area, out of direct line of sight of local authority cameras, where the assault continued.

As reported by Metropolitan Police News, Emergency services arrived at approximately 04:55 BST following reports of a group fighting with weapons. Officers found Mr Castillo Volquez unconscious between two parked vehicles. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 05:37 BST. A post-mortem examination determined he had sustained 22 sharp-force injuries—primarily delivered by long blades—alongside blunt-force facial trauma caused by kicking, stamping, and impacts from heavy objects.

As detailed in coverage by Wales Online, four knives, including a machete and a Rambo-style knife, were later uncovered by detectives hidden within two nearby flats.

How Were the Defendants Traced Across International Borders?

As reported by Detective Inspector Jim Barry of the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Unit, investigative teams analysed extensive CCTV footage and forensic evidence to track down the suspects across European jurisdictions.

• Benito Ramirez Kones: Detained by police in Swansea five days following the incident. Forensic analysis confirmed traces of Mr Castillo Volquez’s blood on the heels of his footwear.
• Carlos Akum Metumbe: Fled the United Kingdom shortly after the murder. Spanish authorities located Metumbe, leading to his formal extradition by Metropolitan Police officers in August 2025.
• Luiggi Perelli Santana: Italian national Santana also successfully crossed international borders into continental Europe. His bloody fingerprints were identified on both the medical crutch and a large knife seized from the crime scene. He was extradited from Spain in October 2025.

As reported by Wales Online, Mr Justice Bourne KC noted during sentencing that both Metumbe and Santana tried to minimise their liability during testimony:

“In your evidence the two of you each attempted to restrict your involvement in this offence to what you considered could be proved against you from the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage and forensic evidence”.

What Sentences Were Issued at Southwark Crown Court?

Following an eight-week trial culminating in murder convictions, the court imposed the following terms:

• Carlos Akum Metumbe (22): Sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years before parole eligibility.
• Luiggi Perelli Santana (22): Sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years. The judge noted Santana was on court bail at the time of the murder after failing to attend court for possessing a taped machete in public in November 2024.
• Benito Ramirez Kones (20): Sentenced to life in custody with a minimum term of 23 years. Kones committed the murder while serving a suspended sentence for carrying a locking knife in October 2024.

Background of the Particular Development

The conviction follows an extensive, multi-jurisdictional homicide investigation by the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Unit. In the immediate aftermath of the January 2025 murder, police issued appeals across North London to gather witness accounts, visiting the Tiverton Estate to collect community evidence.

During early stages of the enquiry, the victim’s family publicly appealed for witnesses to come forward. In a statement released through police channels, Mr Castillo Volquez’s family stated:

“Gregory was a much-loved son, father and friend, and his family is heartbroken by this loss. Even the smallest detail could be crucial”.

Detectives utilized forensic tracking, international arrest warrants, and European extradition protocols to apprehend the suspects who fled outside UK jurisdiction. The Specialist Crime Unit reported a 95 per cent positive outcome rate across its murder investigations following the resolution of this trial.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Local Community and Justice Framework

This ruling and the handed-down sentences will affect multiple groups across local communities and legal systems:

1. Impact on the Local Haringey Community: Residents on the Tiverton Estate and the wider Haringey area are likely to experience increased reassurance following the removal of three violent individuals from public streets. However, public concern regarding knife-enabled crime and bail enforcement may prompt local authorities to increase policing presence around estates known for anti-social behaviour.
2. Impact on Extradition Protocols and Cross-Border Policing: The swift location and extradition of suspects from Spain back to the UK within months of the crime demonstrates strong operational ties between British and European law enforcement agencies. This sets a clear precedent that attempting to flee the UK jurisdiction following serious violent offences will not hinder criminal prosecution.
3. Scrutiny over Bail and Suspended Sentence Supervision: The revelation that two of the perpetrators were already subject to judicial restrictions—one on court bail for machete possession and another on a suspended sentence for carrying a knife—will likely trigger policy discussions surrounding the monitoring and bail conditions imposed on individuals charged with weapon offences.