Two men who returned to a murder scene after stabbing an unarmed man to death as he sat in his car have been convicted. Abdul Jalloh, 23, was knifed in the neck on New Union Close, Isle of Dogs, on August 5, 2024.
The emergency services raced to the scene at about 4.15pm, but he died a short while later. A jury heard that Shamiah McKenzie, 18, of Colvin Close, Lewisham and Codee Godfrey, 19, of Grosvenor Wharf Road, Tower Hamlets, circled the area for an hour on bikes hunting their target.
After the attack they tried to hide evidence in the Thames and threw the knife and its sheath and McKenzie’s bike into Caledonian Wharf. They also packed their bloody clothes and shoes into bags before changing into summer clothes and hiding their old clothes and two phones in bushes.
Upon finding the bags, police uncovered £3,000 worth of cannabis, £2,000 in cash, a vacuum sealing machine used to package drugs, and business cards with their phone numbers on.
McKenzie and Godfrey were so confident that they returned to the Thames Path which was full of officers searching for Abdul’s killers. However, they handed themselves into police on Thursday, August 8 2024 and were charged the following day.
McKenzie, who was found guilty of murder, and Godfrey, who was found guilty of manslaughter, yesterday (Thursday, June 12) at the Old Bailey, will be sentenced on Friday, June 20, at the same court.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Abdul Jalloh, who lost a loved one in shocking circumstances.
“By carrying and using a knife, McKenzie’s callous act demonstrates once again the devastating and far-reaching effects of knife crime.
“I therefore commend the officers who worked incredibly hard to build evidence against McKenzie and Godfrey in order to prove that there could be no doubt as to their guilt. London will be a safer place with them taken off the streets.
“I also want to thank the local community who came forward to assist officers with footage they had on the day. They displayed immense courage in giving evidence to the court.”
Sign up to our London Court & Crime newsletter for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up HERE
