Pitsea: Dwayne Forrester's killers jailed for 11 years

Two men have been jailed after admitting their parts in the death of Dwayne Forrester in Pitsea in 2018 thanks to the work of detectives who were determined to secure justice for his family.

Jeffrey Goodwin, 26, and 25 year-old Hayden Line were sentenced today at Basildon Crown Court after admitting to Dwayne’s manslaughter on Wednesday.

Dwayne, who was 21 at the time, was found injured in Little Garth at around 8.40pm on Saturday 7 July 2018.

He was taken to hospital but, sadly, died there at around 10pm.
A post-mortem examination found he had sustained single stab wound to the heart.

In the hours leading up to the attack CCTV showed both Goodwin and Line in the area while a witness described how Goodwin had threatened Dwayne for selling drugs on his patch.

Officers were also told that, after seeing Dwayne, Goodwin had run across Pitsea Road towards Little Garth shortly before the attack.

And through other investigations, officers were able to place him in the vicinity of the scene at the time of the murder.

Today’s sentencing hearing heard that following the attack, Line had gone to an address in Pitsea and told the people inside he had stabbed Dwayne.

Phone evidence also indicated Dwayne had received a text message from a phone that Line had used to sell drugs, luring him to the scene.

In the months following the murder, Line had confessed to a third party that he had killed Dwayne by stabbing him once and that he and Goodwin were both there when it happened.

Line, of Esmond Close, Rainham, and Goodwin, of Russell Road, Canning Town were both arrested in January 2019 on suspicion of murder and manslaughter and later charged.

They denied the charges but, on the third day of their trial, admitted manslaughter.

They were each sentenced today to 11 years in prison.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Julie Gowen, who has led the investigation, said:

“Today is about securing justice for Dwayne’s family, who have carried themselves with incredible dignity throughout our investigation.
“They knew we were never giving up. They knew we were determined to find and convict Dwayne’s killers and today marks the culmination of that work.
“During our investigation we have taken 400 statements, seized 820 exhibits, and viewed more than 180 hours of CCTV.
“Independent charity Crimestoppers put up a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Dwayne’s killers, and the case has featured on the BBC One programme Crimewatch Roadshow.
“We’ve made around a dozen public media appeals for information.
“Of course, today’s outcome will not bring Dwayne back. His family have been left without a son and a brother and nothing we have secured today will change that.
"But I hope that at the very least they take some comfort knowing the men responsible for his death are now in prison serving an appropriate sentence.”

“We have never given up trying to get justice for Dwayne’s family” – those are the words of the detective who led the investigation into the death of Dwayne Forrester after his killers were convicted today.

Jeffrey Goodwin, 26, and 25 year-old Hayden Line today admitted to the manslaughter of Dwayne, more than four years after he was killed.

Dwayne, who was 21 at the time, was found injured in Little Garth, Pitsea, at about 8.40pm on Saturday 7 July 2018.

He was taken to hospital but, sadly, died there at around 10pm.

A post-mortem examination found he had sustained a single stab wound to the heart.

Line, of Esmond Close, Rainham, and Goodwin, of Russell Road, Canning Town, were both arrested in January 2019.

They initially denied murder and manslaughter but both admitted manslaughter during a hearing today at Basildon Crown Court.

They will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 14 October.

Senior investigating officer Julie Gowen, who has led the investigation, said:

“Today, my thoughts and those of my team, are with Dwayne’s family who have waited more than four years for justice.
“Dwayne Forrester’s death has had a huge impact on his friends and family and no court result will ever bring him back.
“They have shown incredible courage throughout the lengthy investigation and trial, and I want to thank them for their support to my team and praise them for their bravery.
“We have never given up trying to get justice for them. We have left no stone unturned, no avenue unexplored and today’s conviction is the culmination of that work.
“No result will ever bring Dwayne back, but I hope this result, and the prospect of significant sentences for Jeffrey Goodwin and Hayden Line, will give his family some peace and help them move forward.”