CCTV of killers before Ipswich Raymond James Quigley murder

Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell, both 19, were convicted of the murder of Raymond James Quigley in an attack in Westgate Street on January 17 last year.

Police have now released footage of the pair meeting up in the grounds of Suffolk New College at 3.15pm before they headed into the town centre.

They took a snaking route on their way towards Westgate Street and can be seen standing and looking in various places, like they were searching for someone.

Twenty minutes after they first met, Hammett stabbed Mr Quigley while Howell used a machete to prevent his friends from intervening.

The pair captured in Ipswich town centre before the attack (Image: Suffolk police)

Footage has shown Howell chasing some of the friends into a nearby shop and shows the pair fleeing in different directions while Mr Quigley was on the ground, where he was treated by passers-by.

A trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard the stabbing was part of a “deep-rooted gang rivalry”.

Detective Chief Inspector Tam Burgess, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: "This was an horrific and completely senseless act of extreme violence that has resulted in the death of an 18-year-old man who had his whole life ahead of him.

"I want to pay tribute to James’ family for their dignity and perseverance throughout this investigation and more latterly the trial, which has been an incredibly difficult process for them.

"I also want to thank everyone who has been involved with this inquiry, from detectives, to the CCTV team, enquiry officers, major incident room staff and crime scene investigators.

"It was an intense three days following the attack, seizing and viewing hundreds of hours of video footage and gathering all the other evidence, which ultimately led to us identifying Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell.

Hammett and Howell meeting at the college (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

"I am still staggered by the brazen way in which Hammett and Howell committed this heinous crime in such a public place, with numerous members of the public around and in full view of CCTV cameras.

"James Quigley was simply walking through town with his friends, when he was subjected to this unprovoked attack and without any opportunity to defend himself. He stood no chance. 

"And the motivation? Although they are never likely to tell us themselves, everything points to it being down to gang rivalry.

"Across the country we are seeing too many deaths of this nature. This senseless loss of young lives has to stop."