Three teens convicted for stabbing rival drug dealer to death after luring him to house in Roehampton

Three teenagers have been convicted for stabbing a rival drug dealer to death after luring him to a house in south-west London.

The group tricked 24-year-old Abdirizak Hassan into visiting an address in Roehampton in May 2021 and then stabbed him in the chest upon arrival.

Elijah Roye, 18, from Wandsworth, was found guilty of murder at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, May 27.

Accomplices Muhammad Danso, 18, and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were both convicted of manslaughter.

All three will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, July 29.

Police rushed to a block of flats in Dowdeswell Close at 11:04am on May 6 following reports that a body had been found.

Officers found Abdirizak with stab wounds and later determined that he had been attacked at the same location the previous afternoon.

The group arrived at the property on May 5 and used a woman’s phone to call him up and claim she wanted to buy drugs from him.

When he arrived at 5.20pm they ambushed him in an attack that lasted several minutes.

The defendants then left the property and were seen on CCTV heading away from the area, before splitting up and going their separate ways.

In a statement, the victim’s family said: "Abdi was well loved son, brother and friend. He was a funny, clever, compassionate and big-hearted person. We miss him dearly and will cherish our memories of him forever."

Detective Adam Guttridge, the senior investigating officer, said:"This case is yet another tragic example of the devastating consequences drugs can have on young lives.

"Our painstaking investigation involved reviewing a large amount of CCTV and phone data to link the suspects to one another and to the scene. I am pleased our work means three dangerous individuals will now spend a considerable time in prison.

"We also spoke to several witnesses and I would like to praise the bravery of those who spoke to us. The Met committed to reducing violence crime across London but we can’t do this without your help.

"While today’s verdict will not bring Abdirizak back, I do hope it gives his family and friends some closure to know his killers have brought to justice.