Romario Gordon jailed for manslaughter after killing sixteen year old Camron Smith in Croydon

A man has been jailed for thirteen years for the manslaughter of sixteen year old Camron Smith, who was stabbed to death in front of his mother during a violent home invasion in Croydon. The fatal attack took place in July twenty twenty one when a group of men armed with knives forced their way into the family home while seeking revenge for an earlier stabbing. The sentencing at the Old Bailey brought emotional testimony and stark reflections on the horror that unfolded inside the property.

Romario Gordon, now twenty two, was seventeen at the time of the incident. He was part of a group that arrived at the home carrying large knives, including machetes. Judge Anuja Dhir told him that the group had been hunting as a pack and that he knew weapons were being carried with the intention of causing serious harm. She described the killing of Camron in front of his mother as one of the most distressing experiences a parent could witness.

The attack came after the group hijacked a Toyota Prius minicab and carried out a series of crimes across Croydon as they pursued those they believed were responsible for another stabbing. The group entered two properties before reaching Camron’s home on Bracken Avenue. Once inside, they confronted Camron and his mother on the ground floor before chasing the boy upstairs. Camron attempted to barricade himself in a bedroom with his mother, but the attackers forced their way inside.

Audrey Johnson, Camron’s mother, tried desperately to protect her son. She attempted to grab a large zombie style knife held by one of the intruders, placing herself directly between her son and the group. Despite her efforts, Camron was surrounded and fatally stabbed within minutes. He was unarmed and dressed only in his underwear when the attackers cornered him.

During her victim impact statement, Ms Johnson described the trauma of witnessing her son’s death. She said the scene would haunt her for the rest of her life and spoke of the emptiness left behind. She told the court that the day her son was killed was the day part of her died.

CCTV footage later showed Gordon running from the stolen taxi shortly after the killing and discarding a large machete in a nearby street. He fled to the Gambia two days after the attack where he lived for more than a year. During sentencing, his lawyer said Gordon had led a productive life abroad by running a car washing business and employing others. He also said Gordon returned to the United Kingdom voluntarily to face justice and had written a letter expressing remorse.

The court heard that the decision for Gordon to leave the country had been driven by his family. His defence argued that he had shown genuine regret and a desire to take responsibility for his role in the events.

Several other men have already been sentenced in connection with the killing. Romain La Pierre, aged twenty two, was previously convicted of murder and robbery of the minicab and was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of twenty eight years. Nineteen year old James Olanipekun was convicted of robbery and manslaughter and jailed for eight years. Jordan Tcheuko, aged twenty one, was also convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to fifteen years. Police are still searching for two further individuals linked to the attack.

The fatal stabbing of Camron Smith left a deep impact on the local community and highlighted once again the devastating consequences of knife related violence. As Gordon begins his sentence, Camron’s family continues to grieve the loss of a boy whose life was cut short in the most shocking and heartbreaking circumstances.