Three men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 21‑year‑old film student who was fatally stabbed on the Primrose Hill viewpoint in north London, a court has heard.
Finbar Sullivan – known to friends as Fin – died after being kicked, punched and stabbed in the thigh during what prosecutors allege was a violent brawl involving a group of young males on the evening of Tuesday 7 April 2020. The fatal wound was described as “unsurvivable”.
The alleged attack
According to the case outlined at the Old Bailey, Mr Sullivan entered Primrose Hill park at 6.25pm and joined friends before he was allegedly surrounded by a group of attackers. Prosecutors allege that Ernest Boateng, 25, kicked Mr Sullivan, taking out his legs and causing him to fall to the ground. Once on the ground, it is alleged that Alexis Bidace, 25, and Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27, both punched and kicked the student. A fourth male, who has not been named in court, is alleged to have stabbed Mr Sullivan in the thigh with a knife, causing an injury that proved unsurvivable.
Police were alerted to the fight at 6.41pm, and multiple calls were made to both the Metropolitan Police and the London Ambulance Service. The incident was allegedly witnessed by numerous passers‑by, some of whom filmed the violence on mobile phones. Officers later stated they are reviewing that footage and have appealed for anyone with additional photos or videos to come forward via the police major incident portal, or by calling 101 with reference 6448/07Apr. Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers.
A second man, believed to be in his 20s, was found nearby on Regent’s Park Road with stab wounds. Those injuries were not life‑threatening or life‑changing. In a separate development, Khalid Abdulqadir, 18, has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to that second victim, as well as violent disorder and possession of a knife. He appeared in court on 14 April 2026.
Mr Sullivan, a student at the London Screen Academy in Highbury, had ambitions of becoming a cameraman, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Michael Seresin – a cinematographer whose credits include Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Rambo III. His father, Christopher Sullivan – a musician and founder of the 1980s band Blue Rondo à la Turk – told reporters that Finbar had gone to Primrose Hill that evening to test a new camera he had received for his 21st birthday. He described his son as a “studious kid” who spent many nights editing footage and was about to start a company with him. “He was the most beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy,” Mr Sullivan said. “I’m so broken‑hearted, I can’t believe it. He can never be replaced.”
Mr Sullivan’s father emphasised that Finbar was not involved in gang violence and was the victim of an “indiscriminate stabbing”. He said his son did not drink or smoke and was a “groovy 21‑year‑old who loved movies and making films”. Under the name “Sully Shot It”, Finbar had also produced music videos for drill rap artists. Sam Summerson, principal of the London Screen Academy, described him as a “kind, thoughtful, and valued member” of the school and “a delight to have in class”.
A vigil was later held on Primrose Hill in memory of Finbar Sullivan, attended by his family, friends and figures from the music world, including Graham “Suggs” McPherson (Madness), Paul Weller, Kevin Rowland (Dexys Midnight Runners), Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) and Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols). Balloons were released, candles and flowers were placed at the park gates, and some of Finbar’s favourite songs were sung.
Primrose Hill, a Grade II listed public park managed by The Royal Parks, has long been a popular beauty spot offering panoramic views of the London skyline. However, residents have raised concerns about public safety and antisocial behaviour in recent years, particularly after the park’s lack of permanent gates and its open access after dark have been linked to large gatherings, noise and drug dealing. The fatal stabbing of a teenager on New Year’s Eve 2023 further heightened those anxieties. Crime data shows that the Primrose Hill ward has a medium crime level compared with other wards in England and Wales, with violence and sexual offences the most common crimes; the wider London Borough of Camden, where the park sits, records a high crime level of 228 offences per thousand residents.
Court proceedings
On Friday, 26 June 2026, Ernest Boateng, Alexis Bidace and Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu appeared at the Old Bailey before Judge Mark Dennis KC for a plea hearing. Speaking by videolink from Belmarsh and Isis prisons, each man confirmed his identity and entered not guilty pleas to all three charges against them: murder, manslaughter and violent disorder in Primrose Hill.
All three defendants, who are from Enfield, north London, were remanded into custody. Judge Dennis set a further case management hearing for 25 September 2026 and provisionally listed an eight‑week trial to begin on 5 April 2027.
A 25‑year‑old man initially arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was later released with no further action.
