Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Headline: Man found guilty of Brixton murder
A man has been convicted of murder after a brutal stabbing in Brixton.
Alando Bolt, 45 (17.06.72) of Adelaide Close, Lambeth was found guilty of murder and possession of an offensive weapon on Friday, 2 February at the Old Bailey.
He had stabbed his victim, 30-year-old Andrew Thompson, eleven times, during an attack in broad daylight in Atlantic Road, Brixton, SW9.
At about 12:50hrs on Friday, 18 August Bolt and Thompson had met in the street. They were seen to be talking, when Bolt suddenly launched an attack with a knife.
Mr Thompson was not armed with any weapons and did not strike Bolt at all; but he was still repeatedly stabbed by Bolt, who then ran from the scene.
Police and London Ambulance Service were called, but Mr Thompson had suffered a series of serious injuries and his life could not be saved.
He was pronounced dead at 14.08hrs the same afternoon, less than 90 minutes after the stabbing.
The post-mortem examination found the victim had received eleven knife wounds.
The fatal wound was a stab wound to the chest which pierced his heart. There was also a serious wound to the victim’s head and a defensive wound to the victim’s arm.
Following the incident an investigation was launched by officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC).
Bolt was quickly identified as a suspect and he was arrested at 22:30hrs that same day, at an address in Streatham High Road.
Clothing similar to that worn by the attacker was recovered and it was noted that Bolt had a recent cut to his right hand.
After his arrest Bolt was interviewed and made no comment. He was charged with murder on Sunday, 20 August.
However in the run up to his trial Bolt admitted that he killed Mr Thompson.
His case was that there had been some previous dispute and when they bumped into each other they had argued. Bolt stated that he believed he was going to be attacked, so he stabbed Mr Thompson in self-defence.
This justification was rejected by the jury, who found him guilty of murder.
Bolt will be sentenced on Monday, 12 March at the same court.
DI Garry Moncrieff of the HMCC, said: “It is incredible that a trivial dispute could apparently lead to murder and so much despair. Bolt deliberately armed himself with a knife and then carried out an unprovoked, vicious, and protracted assault. This attack was in broad daylight and in a busy street.
“I do not doubt that this day will haunt those who saw what happened and I am glad the jury has seen through Bolt’s spurious claim of self defence.
“I hope this conviction will now bring some comfort to Mr Thompson’s family and friends.”