A man who set a dog on a 16-year-old gang rival before stabbing him to death will serve a minimum of 24 years in jail.

Crisdian Johnson was sentenced to life at the Old Bailey today, after his dog’s DNA was linked to the crime scene.

He was told by the judge he would serve a minimum of 24 years for the murder and was also sentenced to 20 years in prison, to run concurrently, for attempted murder.

Oluwaseyi Ogunyemi died after he was stabbed six times in Larkhall Park, Stockwell, on April 27 last year, while his friend Hirui Hiyabu, 17, was stabbed nine times but survived.

Both victims suffered dog bites after the attack, which involved up to 15 youths, some masked and carrying weapons, from rival groups.

Yesterday, Johnson, 22, Wyvil Road, Clapham, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous verdict and attempted murder by a majority verdict.

His brother, Shane Johnson, 20, was found not guilty of the charges. A third defendant, 18-year-old Darcy Menezes, of Clapham, was cleared earlier in the trial.

The jury unanimously found Crisdian Johnson guilty of murder and a majority verdict on attempted murder.