Haseeb Bhatti, 23, was stabbed and killed in Dagenham in April 2024
Two men have been convicted of murdering a 23-year-old man in Dagenham in a ‘vicious, coordinated’ attack.
On Wednesday (29 October), a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court found Frankie Burletson, 25, of Arden Crescent, and Swayf Amana, 27, of Brittain Road, both from Dagenham, guilty of murdering Haseeb Bhatti in April 2024. The pair were also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to another man. A third man, Haiden Khalik-Noor, 19, of Bentry Road, Dagenham, was found not guilty of both charges.
The court heard that Haseeb was with friends in Rothwell Gardens in the early hours of Saturday, 20 April, when a group of five men armed with knives arrived in a Mercedes and launched a violent attack.
Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at around 1.30am to reports of a stabbing. Officers found a 50-year-old man with stab wounds. He e was taken to hospital and later discharged. Shortly afterwards, officers discovered Haseeb in nearby Flamstead Road. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.
In a statement, Haseeb’s family said: “Our son was our world, and losing Haseeb has broken us completely. The pain is with us every moment of every day. Those responsible have shown no remorse for what they have done to our family. We’re praying that justice will be served for our beautiful boy.”
An extensive Met Police investigation reviewed mobile phone data, number plate recognition and hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, linking Burletson and Amana to the scene. Detectives also uncovered evidence of pre-planning, including the purchase of balaclavas and gloves before the attack.
Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Carberry, who led the investigation, said: “My thoughts remain with the family of Haseeb, who despite losing a much-loved member of their family in the most horrific of circumstances, have remained dignified throughout the investigation and trial.
“Their lives will never be the same following the actions of Burletson, Amana and others, whose sole purpose that evening was to cause harm in a coordinated, vicious attack.
“These two men will now face the consequences of their actions. I hope this brings some peace to Haseeb’s family and to the second man stabbed in this attack.”
Burletson was arrested on 24 April and charged two days later. Amana was arrested on 27 May and charged the following day. They will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 31 October.
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