Police offer £30,000 reward for information on Joseph Burke-Monerville murder

Joseph Burke-Monerville. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

A £30,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of the killer(s) of 19-year-old Joseph Burke-Monerville, who was shot in the head as he sat in a car in Hindrey Road, E8, on Saturday 16 February 2013.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 12 July) a jury at the inquest into the death of the forensic science student returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

Police have renewed their appeal for information and witnesses who have not previously come forward.

The reward has been offered for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the murder of Joseph Burke-Monerville, and the attempted murder of his two brothers, David Bello-Monerville and Jonathon Burke-Monerville.

On 16 February 2013, the three brothers had been to a gym and were en route to visit family, when they decided to make a detour to a shop in Clarence Road, Hackney, to cash in winnings from a scratch card.

At about 8.20pm, Joseph’s older brother David parked their car in Hindrey Road and almost immediately two people approached the vehicle.

Detectives have established that the suspects came to Hindrey Road via Shellness Road, and then by turning left onto Clarence Road.

The first suspect approached the car and said words to the effect of: “Are you from Pembury?” or “Are you Pembury?”

Joseph’s older brother David Bello-Monerville said they were not from the area, at which point the suspect fired a gun into the car, shooting Joseph in the head and injuring David’s arm.

Joseph’s twin Jonathon, who was sitting in the back, was uninjured.

David Bello-Monerville managed to drive a short distance into Clapton Square, where they flagged down some police officers who were dealing with an unrelated incident.

Joseph was taken to hospital by London’s Air Ambulance but he was pronounced dead soon after.

The two suspects left the scene at Hindrey Road, at the junction with Clarence Road.

They ran through the Pembury Estate, across Pembury Road and into Downs Road. They were last seen disappearing into Hackney Downs park.

Police say they were both wearing baseball caps, gloves and baggy clothing, and wore bandanas over their faces.

Detective Chief Inspector Robert Pack, of the police’s homicide and major crime command unit, said: “The Met would like to offer its sincere condolences to Joseph’s family who we remain in dialogue with and continue to update them with the progress of the murder investigation.

“Information and intelligence established by the murder investigation strongly points to the murder being carried out by local gang members in retaliation against a rival gang.

“Joseph’s murder is all the more tragic as we believe it was a case of mistaken identity and neither Joseph nor his brothers were linked to gangs or any type of criminality.

“Three years on, we are hoping that someone with information they have not previously brought to the police will come forward and help us finally bring his killer(s) to justice.”

Police are asking anyone with information to call the incident room on 020 8345 3982 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.