A 19-YEAR-OLD gang member has been found guilty following a retrial for "brutally and callously" murdering a promising teenage athlete.

David Nyamupfukudza, of Nunstead Road, New Cross, is the second man to be convicted of killing Sylvester Akapalara, 17, at Peckham's Pelican Estate in December 2010.

The teenager was found by police in a fourth floor stairwell suffering from gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.

On the day of the killing, Sylvester and two friends were exchanging cannabis at the Heron house towerblock when they noticed a gang of youths approaching the building.

He and his friends were chased down the communal stairs of Heron House by Adeojo and Nyamupfukudza. During this chase Sylvester was shot in the neck, and he bled to death.

The two friends fled for their lives but were chased and, as they tried to get out of the building, were stabbed several times. An attempt was made to shoot them too but the gun jammed.

Detective Inspector Matt Gosling from Trident Gang Crime Command said: "I am pleased with today's verdict which will see Nyamupfukudza also jailed for a long time.

"Sylvester was brutally gunned down and murdered in the most callous way and it is only because the gun jammed that his two friends were not shot too.

"The Trident Gang Command will pursue relentlessly those individuals who are intent on committing violence and murder.

"We are also here if you want to engage with us and want our help in exiting a gang lifestyle but, if you do not, we will identify you and we will arrest you."

In a trial last year, jurors had failed to reach a verdict on Nyamupfukudza's involvement but convicted Sodiq Adeojo, aged 19, from Peckham, of the murder.

But Nyamupfukudza was convicted at the Old Bailey today (May 29) of murder and attempted murder.

He will be sentenced tomorrow.