The Aura Wembley: Police call to shut bar after man killed

Givani Espuet, 21, was killed after he was stabbed outside The Aura in Harrow Road on October 30, 2022.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of an incident involving 30 people.

He suffered 10 stab wounds from two knives after a “furious row” broke out inside the club and spilled onto the streets.

Over two years later, the Metropolitan Police are looking to revoke the licence after a “long history” of the venue breaching licensing regulations.

Givani Espuet died after a stabbing outside The Aura (Image: Handout)

PC Phil Graves claimed that despite two reviews in 2022 and a series of warning letters, none of these interventions “have improved the venue or the crime emitting from the club”.

The bar has applied to transfer the licence, currently held by KN Bros Limited, to a new licensee, Ana-Maria Grama.

Ms Grama argued against the police’s intervention and said in response : “I am aware of the complaint by the police about the disturbances at the premises. However, I must state that I have been informed by the previous licensee that the alleged crimes happened on the streets and not at the club.”

She added: “I should state that the consideration of my licence should not be prejudiced by incidents under the previous licensee.”

Givani Espuet died after a stabbing outside The Aura (Image: Family handout)

Christiana Constantinou, who had been dating Mr Espuet for five years, told the Brent & Kilburn Times It was difficult for her to adjust without him as he was “always present” in her life.

The two would see each other nearly four times a week and would constantly talk over the phone.

She said: “We had our plans – we had a three year, five year, 10 year plan. It’s all gone now in a space of a couple of minutes.

“When people say a person could light up a room, I would literally say that’s Givani. Everyone is just missing him so much, it’s such a loss.”

Givani Espuet died after a stabbing outside The Aura (Image: Family handout)

After the fatal stabbing, she backed calls to close down the venue as loved ones called for its closure.

When Brent Council decided to not revoke its licence after a review in 2022, Givani’s aunt said she was “furious” and felt there was “no consideration” given to the family.

She added: “The fact that they were allowed to open so quickly feels quite disrespectful.

“Givani’s funeral only took place on December 16. We live in the area and I have to walk past The Aura and the spot where Givani fell and died every single day.”

The Aura was put up for sale in October of this year.

Earlier this year, the team claimed the purchase of the venue is 70 per cent completed, with over half a million pounds already ploughed into the business by investor Iftikhar Ashard.

Brent Council’s Entertainment and Alcohol Licensing Sub-Committee will review the application on December 11.