In a chilling case that has shocked the community, a man and a boy have been convicted of murder after being traced to their home addresses by detectives meticulously examining CCTV footage. The defendants, Nah’shun Thomas, 20, and a 17-year-old boy, appeared at Croydon Crown Court for trial and were found guilty of murdering Kalabe Legesse in Peckham Rye.
The incident took place on 30 December 2022, at around 20.00 when the victim, Kalabe Legesse, 29, was sitting on a bench at Peckham Rye Park. The defendants approached him on bikes and threatened him in an attempt to steal his mobile phone. Tragically, during the robbery, Mr. Legesse was stabbed once in the chest, a wound that proved fatal.
After the stabbing, the defendants callously left Mr. Legesse collapsed on the park bench, where he later succumbed to his injuries despite the efforts of emergency services. A post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was a haemorrhage resulting from the single stab wound to the heart.
The investigation into this senseless crime involved painstakingly reviewing countless hours of CCTV footage. By retracing the movements of the suspects, detectives were able to identify their home addresses. The defendants were subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
Further inquiries revealed that the defendants had committed two other mobile phone robberies prior to Mr. Legesse’s murder. In both incidents, the victims reported that the defendants had brandished a knife and demanded their belongings using threatening language. At the beginning of the trial, both defendants pleaded guilty to these previous robberies.
During a search of the 17-year-old defendant’s home, officers discovered a sheathed black-handled hunting knife wrapped in a black Puffa-style coat in his grandmother’s bedroom. Forensic examination later confirmed the presence of Kalabe Legesse’s blood inside the sheath.
The defendants have been remanded in custody and will appear at the same court for sentencing on 19 April. Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge, the investigating officer, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the trial, stating, “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.”
The family of Kalabe Legesse, still grappling with their immense loss, expressed their gratitude to the investigation team for their diligent work in bringing the perpetrators to justice. They emphasised that nothing can bring back their beloved son and that their lives will never be the same again. They also highlighted the lack of remorse shown by the defendants and the devastating impact this crime has had on their families.
