Violence 50 serious incidents – including four murders - linked to postcode rivalry

At least 50 serious offences, including four murders, two attempted murders and as many as 30 other incidents involving knives and machetes have been linked to the so-called 'postcode rivalry' between two groups in Bristol.

- Tristan CORK

Takayo Nembhard

The extent of the issue was laid bare during the evidence given at the murder trial of Eddie King Kinuthia in St Pauls, for which two men will be sentenced today.

Last Thursday, a jury convicted Zacharia Talbert-Young of the 2023 murder of Eddie King Kinuthia in St Pauls - as well as for the attempted murder, alongside Paul Hayden, of another teenager in Lawrence Hill last year. During the six-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, part of the prosecution's case was that the attack on 19-year-old Eddie was motivated by a rivalry - a feud that is said to have been behind the deaths of four young Bristol people over the past few years.

The jury in the trial of Talbert-Young and Hayden were read a statement from Avon and Somerset Police. The uncontested statement outlined to the jury the scale of the issue. The police have recorded "at least 50 violent incidents" since the end of 2018, prosecuting barrister Andrew Langton told the court.