Jurick Croes, 38, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of 25-year-old Riches Obi in Elephant and Castle, London, in November 2020. Croes, who was acting as a fake groom in a sham marriage scheme, was convicted of murdering Obi and holding his mother, Bernadette Ortet, captive in a horrific attack.
The murder occurred after Croes had fallen out with Obi and his mother, with a dispute over the marriage scam that had been arranged. Croes had been paid £500 for his involvement, but he was reportedly expecting a larger sum of £50,000. Croes, along with accomplices Suvenca Martis, 34, and Raichell Felomina, 40, planned to rob Ortet of money by force.
On the night of the murder, Croes and his two accomplices entered Ortet’s home and bound her with cable ties and a scarf. When Obi tried to protect his mother, he was fatally stabbed by Croes. Police found Obi collapsed in the hallway with multiple stab wounds, while Ortet was discovered in a bedroom, bound and gagged.
Croes was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years for the “vicious and savage” murder, which Judge Nigel Lickley described as an unprovoked attack. He was also sentenced to nine years for false imprisonment to be served concurrently.
Felomina was convicted of false imprisonment and jailed for seven-and-a-half years, while Martis, a former hairdresser turned model agency entrepreneur, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years. Martis was also convicted for possession of drugs with intent to supply and was sentenced to an additional three-and-a-half years.
Ms Ortet, who submitted a victim impact statement to the court, condemned the defendants for their heartless actions and described the murder of her son as “the most gruesome manner,” adding that it left her with permanent trauma.
The trio had been involved in a sham marriage scheme, and their motive for the attack appeared to be linked to money they believed they were owed. CCTV evidence and the discovery of items like duct tape and cable ties supported the prosecution’s case.
Croes, Felomina, and Martis all had previous convictions, with Croes having a criminal history in theft, Felomina involved in threats and firearm offenses, and Martis having convictions for theft and drug-related offenses.
This tragic case highlights the dangerous consequences of crime driven by greed and dishonesty, and the lasting impact on the victims’ families.
