Goodmayes man accused of robbing injured student during riots to stand trial

A Goodmayes man accused of robbing an injured student during the London riots will stand trial.

John Kafunda, 22, of Eastwood Road and Reece Donovan, 24, of Milton Court, Cross Road, Romford, allegedly helped Malaysian student Ashraf Rossli, 20, to his feet and then mugged him.

The incident was recorded on a mobile phone and received widespread publicity at the time.

The footage shows two men rifling through Mr Rossli’s rucksack as the dazed student nurses a broken jaw.

Wood Green Crown Court heard Mr Rossli was attacked twice by youths in Northern Relief Road, Barking, in the midst of riots on August 8 this year.

“The victim in this case, Ashraf Rossli, was robbed of his bicycle and punched in the jaw,” said Alison Morgan, for the Crown Prosecution Service.

A 17-year-old of Ilford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will stand trial alongside the pair for the first attack, in which his bike was stolen and his jaw broken, the court heard.

Donovan and Kafunda are both charged with robbery and an alternative count of theft.

The 17-year-old is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

Donovan and Kafunda were remanded in custody while the 17-year-old was bailed ahead of a plea and case management hearing on November 21

A trial date is yet to be fixed.