Five men convicted in Archway double murder as families condemn trial's taunting tone
Victims' relatives say the killers treated the proceedings as a game; sentencing due at the Old Bailey
Five men were convicted of the double murder and attempted murder stemming from a north London music video shoot, with sentencing set to be handed down at the Old Bailey after a long-running trial.
Klevi Shekaj, 23, and Leonardo Reid, 15, died at or near the Archway location in 2023, and Abdullah Abdullahi, 28, was seriously injured. The defendants — Lorik Lupqi, 22; Jason Furtado, 28; Abel Chunda, 29; Xavier Poponne, 22; and Eden Clark, 31 — were found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after jurors deliberated over several weeks. Prosecutors said the attack on the music video shoot was carried out for an adrenaline rush, and that Lupqi and Furtado had planned the assault and recruited others to help.
During the sentencing hearing, victim relatives spoke of the losses inflicted. Leo Reid’s mother, Valentina Locci, described the killing as brutal and said no sentence could undo the damage to her family and to Leo’s siblings and friends. She urged the court to recognize the lasting harm caused by the murder and to acknowledge the brutality of the act as it affected multiple generations.
Klevi Shekaj’s mother, Valbona Shekaj, recalled her son as extraordinary and kind, and said the defendants’ conduct in court deeply wounded her family. She described watching the defendants’ behavior during the trial as something that compounded the family’s suffering and said she hoped for humility and humanity that she did not see.
The court heard that Lupqi and Furtado wore electronic ankle tags at the time of the killings and had recruited others to participate in the attack. Jurors were told the group acted to gain an adrenaline rush, and that at least one other man was stabbed during the melee.
In court, Lupqi challenged proceedings and distrusted the process, prompting the judge to warn that further disruption could lead to his removal from the courtroom. The judge noted that the defendants face life sentences and that consideration of remorse, or a lack thereof, could influence the length of time before parole.
Another defendant, Xavier Poponne, was identified in court as having boasted about the murders in song lyrics, a detail jurors weighed when assessing the defendants’ intent and risk upon release. Prosecutors argued the killings were premeditated and driven by a desire for notoriety rather than any legitimate grievance.
The judge’s remarks at the close of the hearing reflected the seriousness of the crimes and the court’s obligation to impose sentences that reflect the loss endured by the families and the broader community. The five men face life sentences, with parole possible only after a minimum term has been served. The sentencing was adjourned to continue on Friday to finalize the terms of imprisonment and any related orders.
The Archway case has drawn renewed attention to youth violence in London and the ways in which social media and music culture intersect with criminal violence. Authorities say the investigation and trial highlighted the complexity of modern group dynamics and the enduring impact of such acts on victims, families, and witnesses.