Category: United Kingdom

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Murder investigation launched in Tottenham

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed for GBH in ice cream van ‘turf war’

An ice cream van driver who attacked a rival ice cream seller has been jailed.

Qelik Shiha, 33, (3.3.84) of Lily Drive, West Drayton was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, 1 February, to 30 months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of Section 20 assault causing grievous bodily harm.

Police were called at approximately 19:20hrs on 3 April 2017 to South Close, West Drayton to reports that a man had been attacked with a shovel by another man.

Officers attended the scene and found the victim, aged in his 20s, with a large, deep laceration to his hand. An off-duty officer and a witness attempted to bandage the hand until emergency services arrived.

The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance. He underwent surgery to his hand, but has partially lost sensation in two of his fingers.

The victim told officers that he had been in his ice cream van on South Close when the suspect – who had arrived in his own ice cream van at the same time – got out of the van and told him: “This is my patch.”

The suspect – subsequently identified by police as Qelik Shiha – then punched the window of the parked ice-cream van. As the victim ran away, Shiha chased him and struck his hand with the shovel.

Shiha then drove away from the scene in his own ice cream van.

Police arrested Shiha later that evening.

Detective Constable Reda Imane, the investigating officer from Hillingdon CID, said:

“The incident flared up after two ice cream vans drove into South Close that evening at the same time. It was clearly an attempt by Shiha to intimidate a rival business.

“The vicious and unprovoked attack was witnessed by members of the public, including at least one young child, and was carried out in broad daylight. I’m very happy that we have removed this violent individual off the streets.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal to trace woman missing from Islington

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Three charged following murder of inmate at HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man charged with four further counts of sexual assault

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal following distraction burglary in Enfield

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed for manslaughter after killing his fiancée

A man who calmly called police to tell them he had just killed his fiancée has been jailed for manslaughter.

Arben Rexha, 33, (03.02.84) of Jessop Court, N1 was sentenced today, Friday, 2 February to 10 years’ imprisonment.

On Friday, 8 September Rexha pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 25-year-old Elidona Demirai on the basis of diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey. His sentencing was delayed for a psychiatric assessment to be made.

Police were called at around 23:50hrs on Sunday 31 January 2016 by Rexha who claimed to have killed his partner at an address in Jessop Court, N1.

Officers attended and found Rexha with his arms outstretched and hands together ready to be arrested and handcuffed.

Elidona was found inside the property with multiple stab wounds to the throat.

Officers administered first aid until the arrival of the London Ambulance Service. London’s Air Ambulance also attended but Elidona was pronounced dead at the scene a short while later.

Her family was informed and a post mortem examination held on 2 February 2016 gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds.

Elidona had only been in the UK for three months before she was killed, coming from Albania to live with Rexha in Islington.

The court heard how neighbours and friends had heard arguments between the pair escalate in the weeks prior to the murder.

Rexha, who was arrested on the day of the attack, admitted killing his fiancée when questioned and repeatedly banged his head on the table at the end of the interview. He accepted that he did not act in self-defence but claimed to have been suffering from mental health issues in the days leading up to the fatal attack. Rexha pleaded guilty to manslaughter by means of diminished responsibility.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command conducted the investigation.

DI Paul Considine who led the investigation said: “This was a senseless death of a defenceless young woman who had her whole life in front of her; she had only recently arrived in the UK seeking a better life.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends who have had to deal with this terrible loss.”

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.”

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Croydon man jailed for rape

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Teenagers jailed for manslaughter

Two teenagers who stabbed a man to death in an unprovoked attack have been jailed.

Felou Abadja, 19 (22.02.98), of Pinnell Road, SE9, and Dval Doh, 16 (18.08.01) of Floyd Road, SE7 were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday 2 February.

Abadja was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence of four years. Doh was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence of four years.

They were both found guilty of manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon at the Old Bailey on 21 December 2017 following a trial.

Abadja previously pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug (cocaine). Doh had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and possession of a Class A drug (heroin).

On 13 June 2017, police were called by the London Ambulance Service at about 17:45hrs to reports of a man stabbed behind Phipps House, off Woolwich Road, SE7.

Officers and London’s Air Ambulance attended and found 30-year-old Adam Chambers injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:27hrs.

A post-mortem examination held the following day gave cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.

The court heard that on the afternoon of 13 June, Abadja, Doh and a 15-year-old girl were at an address in Lee High Road, recording rap music.

At about 17:00hrs, Abadja called a taxi and asked to be taken to Troughton Road – which is very close to where Adam was fatally stabbed.

The three got in the taxi and they were driven to Troughton Road. Abadja and Doh got out of the taxi, and the driver and the girl waited. The two youths walked to nearby Phipps House and waited in the area next to Hartwell House.

At about 17:35hrs Adam left his home address on his moped and rode to the area of Phipps House, arriving at 17:42hrs when he met Abadja and Doh.

The court heard that Abadja had arranged to meet Adam through a third party to purchase drugs.

Just ten seconds later, the moped was seen to leave the area.

During those ten seconds, Adam was stabbed. He managed to drive a very short distance before collapsing. He was found by a passer-by who called the emergency services.

Abadja and Doh fled to the waiting taxi. The driver noted that they seemed in a hurry, saying ‘let’s go boss”. They also switched their destination to Blackwall Lane and they were dropped off by some flats.

Officers carried out enquiries and Abadja was identified as a suspect.

Abadja was located on 18 June 2017 at an address in Pinnell Road, SE9, after officers forced entry into the property – he was arrested and found to be in possession of a wrap of cocaine. Once at the police station, Abadja tested positive for the drug.

Abadja initially went no comment during interview, but later produced a prepared statement. He placed himself at the scene but said it was the male he was with, Doh, who became involved in a fight with Adam. Abadja told officers he was talking to his regular cannabis dealer when the stabbing took place, and he was some distance away. He said he saw Doh produce a knife and stab the victim. He also told officers he did not know this was going to happen.

However, Abadja was charged with murder and possession of a Class A drug (cocaine) in the early hours of 20 June 2017.

Doh, who was aged 15 at the time, was arrested on 21 June 2017. He was found to be in possession of a large knife and four wraps of heroin. He answered ‘no comment’ to all the questions put to him in interview.

The knife was analysed by an expert who concluded the knife found in Doh’s possession was the same one that fatally stabbed Adam. Traces of Adam’s blood were found inside the bag Doh was wearing upon his arrest.

He was charged on 22 June 2017 with murder, possession of a knife and possession of a Class A drug (heroin).

Detective Superintendent Lee Watling, who led the investigation, said: “This was a vicious unprovoked attack on the victim who was unable to defend himself.

“I hope today’s sentencing gives Adam’s family some measure of closure and comfort.”