A 23-year-old man has received a 27-year prison sentence for stabbing a stranger in the head, resulting in life-altering injuries.
Richard Sivanda, born on June 20, 2002, from Highgate Hill, was sentenced on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being found guilty of attempted murder. The incident involved a 20-year-old man in the Archway area of north London.
CCTV Evidence and Arrest
Authorities reviewed CCTV footage that confirmed Sivanda’s presence at the scene both before and after the attack. The footage also captured him returning to his residence, where he was apprehended just 29 hours following the incident.
During the investigation, detectives discovered a video in which Sivanda, using a filter to obscure his identity, expressed his belief that he had killed the victim and boasted about the brutal nature of the assault.
Efforts Against Knife Crime
This sentencing occurs amid ongoing efforts by the Metropolitan Police to combat knife crime, which included the removal of nearly 3,000 knives from the streets last year through strategic, data-driven initiatives aimed at dismantling criminal organizations and holding offenders accountable.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Alger, who oversaw the investigation, stated, „Our thoughts are with the victim of this heinous attack. A victim of mistaken identity, this case shows how gang violence can spill out further onto our streets.“ She added, „Sivanda was particularly brazen in his conduct, going as far as to brag on social media of the attack and the lasting damage he caused. Thankfully, our detective work has seen him put behind bars.“
Alger also noted, „Our mission to eradicate this kind of violence is having an impact, with the number of people hospitalized after being stabbed falling by 29 percent in the last five years. This represents promising progress, but we remain focused on driving down serious violence across London.“
Details of the Attack
Officers were alerted at 10:28 PM on Saturday, February 15, 2025, after a man was admitted to the hospital with stab wounds to the head. Earlier that evening, Sivanda had approached the victim and his girlfriend as they walked along Highgate Hill towards the Highgate tube station. The victim and his partner had no prior acquaintance with Sivanda.
Sivanda confronted the victim, questioning him about his background, mistakenly believing him to be affiliated with a rival gang linked to a murder that occurred in 2021, a claim that lacked any supporting evidence. After the victim and his girlfriend attempted to walk away, Sivanda pursued them, confronting the victim once more and attacking him with a sharp weapon.
Following the assault, Sivanda fled the scene, leaving the victim in critical condition. The victim managed to reach the hospital, where he received life-saving treatment. Despite this, he sustained lasting brain damage and was subsequently placed in an assisted living facility.
Sivanda had previously pleaded guilty to assault with the intent to cause serious harm. On January 14, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court found him guilty of attempted murder.
Bildquelle: Bildquelle: Kelsey Farish auf Unsplash
