Murder victims grieving families tell of their disgust after firm selling deadly knives was handed £350,000 in taxpayer-funded compensation for giving up weapons in amnesty
The grieving families of murder victims have spoken of their disgust after a firm selling deadly knives was handed £350,000 in taxpayer-funded compensation.
The grieving families of murder victims have spoken of their disgust after a firm selling deadly knives was handed £350,000 in taxpayer-funded compensation.
The terrifying zombie blades, which boast chilling names including First Blood, Fantasy Hunting Knife and Predator, can be more than 18in long – and have become the weapon of choice for gang murders and stabbings.
Sporting Wholesale Limited, which also owns knife brand Anglo Arms, imported these knives in bulk and sold them on to retainers. It will receive £10 in compensation for every knife it hands in to police.
At least seven fatal attacks have been linked to these companies which are in line for the cash – including 14-year-old Gordon Gault who was stabbed to death with a 16 inch Anglo Arms machete in Newcastle in November 2022.
His mother, Dionne Barrett, told The Mirror that she was so shocked to hear that the people who sold the weapons which were used to kill her son would be getting a payout.
Dionne Barrett, said she was so shocked to hear that the people who sold the weapons which were used to kill her son would be getting a payout
Gordon Gault, 14, died in hospital six days after he was attacked with a blade during an ongoing feud in Elswick, Newcastle, in November 2022
Pooja Kanda said she was disgusted at Adam Eliaz, who she claimed was making money from the blood of others
Ronan Kanda, a 16-year-old from Wolverhampton, was murdered with a blade bought by DNA Leisure in June 2022
The 37-year-old said: They should be handing those knives back without making any money. They have already profited from murder. This scheme should be for individuals to hand in knives, not firms who make hundreds of thousands.
I am still struggling to pay for Gordons headstone. This firm should have received no money whatsoever.
Sporting Wholesale is run by Eddy Eliaz, a keen angler who also sells fishing tackle. His younger brother, former Young Apprentice candidate Adam Eliaz, is the director of DNA Leisure, which is based on the same industrial estate in affluent Harpenden and also surrendered 1,542 knives.
Ronan Kanda, 16, was murdered by a sword bought from DNA leisure by Prabjeet Veadhesa, 16.
The killer used his mothers identity to purchase 26 swords in total from the company and slashed Ronan to death in a case of mistaken identity.
Ronans sister Nikita, 24, said it was perverse that the sword sellers will receive money from the Government, having already profited off selling the harmful weapons in the first place.
She added: The surrender scheme can be effective in encouraging people who carry knives to turn in their weapons.
However, its unfair and perverse for sellers to receive money after already profiting significantly from selling these harmful weapons.
Especially the seller that is responsible for supplying over 25 weapons to my brothers 16-year-old murderer, including the ninja sword that pierced my brothers heart.
Superintendent Alex House, who leads on knife crime for Bedfordshire Police, described the size of the haul from the Eliaz brothers company as horrific.
Sporting Wholesale Limited, which is based in a warehouse in affluent Harpenden in Hertfordshire, will receive £10 in compensation for every zombie knife it hands in to police
Sporting Wholesale is run by Eddy Eliaz, a keen angler who also sells fishing tackle
His younger brother, former Young Apprentice candidate Adam Eliaz, is the director of DNA Leisure, which is based on the same industrial estate and also surrendered 1,542 knives
If you look at the design... the purpose is to kill and maim, he told the BBC. Theres no other practical use for them.
Mr House said the weapons would be shredded and the metal inside them recycled, adding that the move would absolutely save lives.
Earlier this year, the mother of Ronan Kanda spoke out against the business after it told shoppers to buy brightly coloured ninja swords, double-headed axes and machetes while you can! on a last chance section of its website.
Pooja Kanda said she was disgusted at Adam, who she claimed was making money from the blood of others.
Adam has long insisted he has done nothing wrong in selling what he calls collectables and tools.
Both DNA Leisure and Sporting Wholesale announced in June that they would stop selling knives after exhausting their current stock.
Until September 23 zombie knife owners can trade in their blades for money so long as they can show acceptable evidence of the value of the weapon, according to the Home Office.
Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, both 17, were involved in a brutal attack on Ronan from behind as he walked to a friends house to buy a PlayStation controller
Some of the blades sold under the brand Anglo Arms had terrifying names, like Blueline Machete
The sword used in his murder after being seized by police
One of the knives Nibeel bought from DNA Leisure
Until earlier in May, DNA Leisure listed clearance products that will soon be outlawed on this page of its website
It removed the page hours after MailOnline got in touch with questions about its business practices - removing the last chance items option from its green menu bar (above)
The Anglo Arms branded weapon that was used to kill the youngster
If they are able to show evidence of the knifes value, such as a receipt, they will get the full value for the zombie knife as they were purchased when the blades were legal to own.
Home Office guidance stipulated that the deadly weapons can be relinquished after September 23, however those who do risk being prosecuted.
A source from the department previously insisted it was usual practice to offer compensation for weapons when they were bought legally.
Those who return the knife with no proof of purchase will only be able to receive £10 per blade.
However to receive the compensation, they must surrender three knives or more, with the maximum payout being £30.
Sporting Wholesale Limited have been approached for a comment.
