The face of a 17-year-old killer who stabbed a man in the heart for his mobile phone can be seen for the first time. Nyran Thomas and his 20-year-old brother Nah’shun, both of Bournemouth Road, Peckham, were sentenced to life at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday (May 15). Nyran recieved a minimum tariff of 19 years, while Nah’shun will serve at least 25 years and three months.
The pair were convicted after a trial in January under Judge Peter Gower, who allowed reporting on Nyran despite child defendants normally enjoying automatic anonymity before they reach the age of 18. Judge Gower also praised police for the ‘painstaking’ investigation, the victim’s family for their ‘quiet dignity’ throughout the ordeal, and the two robbery victims who gave evidence
Kalabe Legesse, from Southwark, was tragically stabbed to death while sitting on a bench in Peckham Rye Park on December 30, 2022. The defendants approached on bikes and threatened him for his mobile phone, stabbing him in the chest in the robbery and leaving him for dead. A post-mortem found Kalabe died of a single stab wound to the heart.
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During the attack Kalabe had been on the phone to a friend, who later told police they heard the suspects say ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘What have you got on you?’. When police arrived at the scene, the phone was missing, but officers were able to trawl CCTV to retrace the suspects to their shared home. Both were arrested on suspicion of murder on January 19, 2023.
Police discovered the knifemen had committed two other phone robberies shortly before Kalabe’s murder. Both victims independently reported the defendants had suggested they had a knife, and asked ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘What have you got on you?’. The defendants pleaded guilty to both robberies during the murder trial.
During a search of Nyran Thomas’s home and his nan’s bedroom, they found a sheathed black handled hunting knife wrapped in a Black puffer jacket. Forensics later confirmed traces of Kalabe’s blood inside the sheath of the murder weapon. Both attackers were charged on January 21, 2023 and were remanded into custody.
In addition to their life sentences, Na’shun Thomas also received two concurrent 30 month sentences for robbery, while Nyran Thomas received two concurrent 20 month sentences for robbery.
‘They have years ahead of them in prison to reflect on the lives they have destroyed’
Investigating officer Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge said: “The defendants were riding around the area, armed with a knife that they were prepared to use to commit violent offences. With crime comes accountability and consequences. For cruelly and needlessly ending Kalabe Legesse’s life, they will have years ahead of them in prison to reflect on their actions and the lives they have destroyed.
“My thoughts today are with Kalabe Legesse’s family as they continue to come to terms with their loss. It is my sincere wish that they find some comfort in knowing that justice has been served.”
Kalabe’s family said they will ‘never understand’ why his was killed for his phone as they thanked police for the investigation. “Nothing can bring back our son Kalabe,” a spokesperson for his family said.
“He was doing nothing wrong on the night that he was killed and we will never understand why he was murdered over a mobile phone. The defendants have not shown any remorse for what they did to him. We have recently passed the anniversary of his death; Christmas and New Year for us will never be the same again.
“Kalabe was loved by everyone he met and had an exciting future ahead of him. He will never be able to have a family of his own, and our family will never have him back. We are grateful to the investigation team for their hard work for over a year to bring these people to justice.”
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