Three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Finbar Sullivan, the 21-year-old son of Welsh musician Christopher Sullivan, who died after a brawl in north London. The defendants appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday for a plea hearing before Judge Mark Dennis KC.
Charges and Pleas
Ernest Boateng, 25, Alexis Bidace, 25, and Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27, each denied charges of murder, manslaughter, and violent disorder. Speaking via videolink from Belmarsh and Isis prisons, they confirmed their identities and entered not guilty pleas to all three counts.
The court previously heard that emergency services were called to a fight involving young males on the evening of Tuesday, April 7, at Primrose Hill viewpoint. Finbar Sullivan, a filmmaking student at the London Screen Academy, had entered the park at 6.25pm and joined friends before allegedly being surrounded by a group of attackers.
Details of the Attack
Prosecutors allege that Boateng kicked Sullivan, taking out his legs and causing him to fall to the ground, where he was then stabbed. Bidace and Ogunyankinnu are accused of punching and kicking Sullivan during the assault. Another unnamed male, allegedly armed with a knife, is said to have stabbed Sullivan in the thigh, causing an “unsurvivable” injury.
All three defendants, from Enfield, north London, were remanded into custody. Judge Dennis set a further case management hearing for September 25, with the trial scheduled to begin on April 5 next year.
Victim's Background
Finbar Sullivan, known as Fin to his friends, was the son of Christopher Sullivan, founder of the 1980s band Blue Rondo a la Turk. He aspired to become a cameraman like his grandfather Michael Seresin, who worked on films such as Harry Potter and Rambo III.
Following his son's death, Christopher Sullivan told the Daily Star: “It’s the worst tragedy I could ever imagine. He can never be replaced. I’m so broken-hearted, I can’t believe it. He was the most beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy. He was just a really lovely person.”
