London, United Kingdom – Two individuals have been convicted of murder after stabbing university graduate Kalabe Legesse to death in Peckham Rye on December 30, 2022.
Nah’shun Thomas, 20, and a 17-year-old boy were found guilty of targeting Legesse for his mobile phone in a brutal and senseless attack. The pair cycled around Southwark looking for people to rob before carrying out the fatal attack on Legesse as he sat on a park bench chatting with a friend.
During the trial, it was revealed that the victim was threatened by the attackers before being stabbed in the heart and collapsing on the park bench. Despite efforts from emergency services, Legesse tragically passed away from a haemorrhage resulting from the single stab wound.
Police investigators were able to track the killers’ escape routes back to their homes, where they discovered a black-handled hunting knife with traces of Legesse’s blood inside the sheath at the 17-year-old’s address. Both Thomas and the 17-year-old denied the murder but were convicted by a jury. They had also admitted to two counts of robbery in relation to the earlier phone muggings that same evening.
The convicted individuals have been remanded in custody, with sentencing scheduled at Croydon Crown Court on April 19. In a statement, Legesse’s family expressed their gratitude to the investigation team for their hard work in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The case serves as a grim reminder of the devastating impact of violent crime, with Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge emphasizing the need for accountability and consequences for such cruel and needless acts. As the family continues to come to terms with their loss, the hope is that justice being served may bring some measure of comfort during this difficult time.