Kevin Lusala, 23, of Orpington, was jailed for a minimum of 30 years
Kevin Lusala, 23, of Orpington, Kent, was jailed for a minimum of 30 years at the Old Bailey earlier today for the murder of Ayodeji Habeeb Azeez.
The victim was stabbed to death in Samos Road, Anerley on Sunday, 4 November 2018 after a 17-year-old girl tricked the victim into thinking he was meeting up with her.
The female defendant had been in contact with him and had arranged to meet up in Anerley.
Ayodeji left his home in Dagenham to meet her in his blue BMW, however a group of young men, including Lusala were there instead waiting to rob him.
They set upon Ayodeji while he was still in his car and although he tried to defend himself, he was overwhelmed.
Lusala stabbed the victim with a large knife 16 times before Gray took to the wheel of the victim’s car and drove away with it towards Marlow Road, before abandoning it a few streets later.
Ayodeji managed to leave the scene in the opposite direction shouting for help. He staggered to an address on Samos Road where he managed to alert the occupants before collapsing.
Police attended along with the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, Ayodeji was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the 22-year-old was stabbed a total of 16 times across his body. It was evident he had suffered extensive internal and external bleeding.
Lusala was also convicted of conspiring to rob Ayodeji and was sentenced to 12 years in prison for this offence, to be served concurrently.
Three other defendants, as well as Lusala, were on trial for murder and conspiracy to rob.
Chaise Gray, 24, of Lancaster Road, South Norwood and a 17-year-old girl (who was 16 at the time) were both found guilty of conspiracy to rob, but not murder as previously charged.
Gray was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The 17-year-old girl, who ran off before the stabbing, was handed a three-year youth rehabilitation order after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob during the trial.
Another man, aged 18 (although, he was 17 at the time of the stabbing) was found not guilty of murder or conspiracy to rob.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, who led the murder investigation, said: “Ayodeji was stabbed numerous times after being lured to a car park. The brutal way in which he was attacked is truly shocking.
“Three people have today been jailed for their involvement in events that day; Lusala is facing the next 30 years in prison for his role in taking a young man’s life.
“I would again like to thank his family who have shown such courage during the course of the investigation.”
Anyone with information about someone you suspect to be carrying a weapon or involved in criminal activity, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Tags: Dagenham, Barking and Dagenham
