IPSWICH, England – 19-year-old Alfie Hammett is currently being held in custody for the repeated stabbing of 18-year-old Ray Quigley in front of onlookers at a shopping area in Ipswich in January last year. What makes this case even more shocking is the fact that Hammett was on bail for another violent assault at the time of the incident.
Five months before the fatal stabbing, Hammett had been banned from Norwich under police bail conditions following an earlier attack. This earlier offense involved a group fight in the street where two police officers and three door staff were assaulted.
The violent incidents are part of a larger gang feud in the region, echoing a previous stabbing death in January 2022. During Hammett’s trial, it became clear that the murder of Ray Quigley was deeply rooted in the rivalry between different groups.
The brutal nature of the attack was revealed during the trial, painting a vivid picture of premeditated murder and gang-related violence. Jurors heard how Hammett and an accomplice, Joshua Howell, targeted Quigley in a busy shopping area, wearing face masks and with hoods up.
Following the fatal attack, both alleged killers fled in different directions, attempting to dispose of their weapons and clothing. The victim, Mr. Quigley, sustained four stab wounds, two of which were fatal wounds to the abdomen and chest. CCTV footage captured him collapsing into a nearby shop where he tragically bled to death.
Hammett’s connection to the murder was further supported by evidence from a tracking device his father had secretly placed on his moped. Despite Hammett’s denial and his phone being returned to factory settings when arrested, the mounting evidence ultimately led to his conviction.
The presiding judge announced that both teenagers had been found guilty of murder and carrying an offensive weapon, and they would be sentenced to mandatory detention for life with the minimum term to be set at a later date. This harrowing case sheds light on the devastating impact of gang violence and the tragic loss of a young life.