Gregory Volquez Murder: Three Men Sentenced at Southwark Crown Court, Harringay 2026

Key Points

• Lengthy Sentences Imposed: Three men have been sentenced to a combined total of 68 years in prison at Southwark Crown Court for the brutal murder of 36-year-old Gregory Volquez.
• Victim and Locus: Gregory Volquez was pronounced dead at approximately 5:00 am on Monday, 13th January 2025, in the middle of Tiverton Road, located within the Harringay Warehouse District.
• Sustained Brutal Attack: A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Volquez suffered 22 stab wounds, predominantly inflicted by a long knife, alongside severe bruising caused by a blunt instrument.
• Perpetrators and Terms: Benito Ramirez Kones, 20, was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years; Carlos Akum Metumbe, 22, received a minimum of 22 years; and Italian national Luiggi Perelli Santana, 22, was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years.
• International Extradition: Metumbe and Santana fled the United Kingdom to Spain after the attack but were located and successfully extradited back to London by Metropolitan Police officers in August and October 2025.
• Forensic and CCTV Evidence: The conviction was built on CCTV footage capturing the attack, alongside bloody footprints on Kones’ trainers and Santana’s fingerprints on both a crutch and the murder weapon.
• Emotional Family Impact: A victim impact statement read in court from Teresa, the partner of Mr Volquez, detailed the profound grief of their young daughter and Mr Volquez’s mother following his death.

Harringay (North London News) September 2026 – Three men have been jailed for a minimum combined total of 68 years following their convictions for the murder of 36-year-old Gregory Volquez, who was fatally attacked in the Harringay Warehouse District in early 2025.

As reported by media coverage across London news outlets, Benito Ramirez Kones, 20, of De Beauvoir Estate, Hackney; Carlos Akum Metumbe, 22, of Lower Clapton Road, Hackney; and Luiggi Perelli Santana, 22, an Italian national of Brixton Hill, Lambeth, were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 4th September. The sentencing follows an eight-week trial held at the same court in May, where all three defendants were found guilty of murder.

The court heard that emergency services were called to Tiverton Road at around 5:00 am on Monday, 13th January 2025. Mr Volquez was pronounced dead at the scene in the middle of the street after suffering 22 stab wounds and blunt force injuries. A fourth co-defendant, 21-year-old Gabriel Pineda Gonzales, was acquitted by the jury.

What Details Were Heard During the Southwark Crown Court Trial?

During the trial proceedings, the court was presented with exhaustive forensic and visual evidence compiled by Metropolitan Police homicide detectives. As reported by local media outlets, CCTV footage captured the dynamic of the violent attack, showing defendants Metumbe and Santana repeatedly raining blows upon Mr Volquez using a machete and a crutch.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Mr Volquez sustained 22 individual knife wounds—many inflicted by a long blade—and exhibited widespread bruising consistent with being struck repeatedly by a heavy, blunt object.

Police investigations established that Mr Volquez knew the three men who carried out the attack. Detective Inspector Jim Barry, who led the Specialist Crime team, highlighted that officers relied on meticulous digital and scientific work to piece together the events leading up to the killing.

How Were the Three Convicted Men Tracked and Brought to Justice?

Following the fatal attack on Tiverton Road, all three assailants attempted to evade law enforcement agencies. As documented in court records, Benito Ramirez Kones fled London to South Wales, where he was located and detained by police officers in Swansea five days after the murder. Upon his arrest, detectives seized a pair of trainers matching those seen on CCTV footage. Subsequent forensic tests confirmed the footwear was stained with traces of Mr Volquez’s blood.

The remaining two assailants, Carlos Akum Metumbe and Luiggi Perelli Santana, managed to escape the United Kingdom and cross into continental Europe. Metropolitan Police detectives tracked both men to Spain, where international arrest warrants were executed. Met officers successfully extradited Metumbe back to the UK in August 2025, while Santana was extradited in October 2025 to face trial.

Forensic analysis played a crucial role in securing their convictions. Fingerprint experts identified Santana’s bloody fingerprints on both the crutch used during the assault and the large knife recovered near the scene.

What Did the Victim’s Family Say in Their Court Impact Statement?

As reported by media coverage of the sentencing hearing, a victim impact statement written by Mr Volquez’s partner, Teresa, was read aloud to the courtroom, detailing the emotional devastation inflicted upon his surviving family.

Addressing the court, Teresa stated:

“We have a daughter, a little girl, who misses her dad. She asks for him, she still expects to see him coming back. She needs his hugs, his words, and his presence. It is very painful to see a little girl suffering the absence of her father and how she tries to understand why he is not with us. They robbed her of the opportunity to grow up beside him, to share her birthdays, graduations and all the important moments of her life.”

Teresa further reflected on the grief experienced by the victim’s wider family circle, stating:

“This tragedy not only destroyed our lives, but also broke the heart of a mother, who lost her only son. There are no words that can describe the suffering of this mother who had to say goodbye to her son in such a cruel and unjust way. Our family has been marked forever.”

How Did the Metropolitan Police Respond to the Verdicts and Sentences?

Speaking after the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Jim Barry praised the determination of his team in assembling the prosecution case.

As reported by news outlets covering the Met Police press release, DI Jim Barry stated:

“Our skilled team of officers showed huge tenacity to build a solid case with undisputable forensic evidence which resulted in three violent men being taken off our streets. It’s this hard work that is enabling the force to secure a positive outcome from 95 per cent of our murder investigations. I hope that this result offers a morsel of justice and closure of Gregory’s family, who have been left without a much-loved dad, brother and son.”

Background of the Particular Development

The conviction and sentencing of Benito Ramirez Kones, Carlos Akum Metumbe, and Luiggi Perelli Santana mark the end of a 20-month international police operation that began in North London in January 2025.

The Harringay Warehouse District, situated around Tiverton Road and Hermitage Road, is a former industrial zone in the London Borough of Haringey that has largely transformed into a creative residential hub. The fatal stabbing of Mr Volquez at 5:00 am on 13th January 2025 prompted localized police cordons and elevated public concern regarding violent crime in the area.

Initial enquiries by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command required cross-border legal requests and close coordination with Spanish authorities to track down Metumbe and Santana after they fled jurisdiction. The extradition proceedings in late 2025 ensured that all primary suspects were brought to trial together at Southwark Crown Court, culminating in the eight-week hearing in May 2026 and final sentencing in September 2026.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect the Local Community and Public Safety

The conclusion of this case and the imposition of minimum sentences totaling 68 years are likely to have several distinct impacts on key stakeholders, including North London residents, local law enforcement, and judicial observers:

• Reassurance for Harringay Residents: The removal of three violent offenders from public space for over two decades offers a direct safety benefit to residents of the Harringay Warehouse District and wider Haringey. The successful resolution of a high-profile violent crime helps restore public confidence in local neighborhood safety.
• Demonstrated Scope of Extradition Authorities: The case highlights the operational reach of the Metropolitan Police and European extradition frameworks. The successful return of suspects from Spain sends a clear deterrence signal that leaving the country does not prevent prosecution in serious violent crime cases.
• Impact on Violent Crime Statistics: The Met Police’s reliance on forensic analysis—such as DNA matching on footwear and fingerprint recovery from weapons—reflects ongoing methodology in maintaining high solve rates for homicides in London, as referenced in Detective Inspector Barry’s statement regarding the force’s 95 per cent detection outcome rate.