A man’s been found guilty of murdering Liam Harman in Harold Hill.
The 28-year-old was stabbed ten times in Straight Road in July 2017 and died from his injuries at the scene.
Cedric Kiyago, 21, was convicted at the Old Bailey earlier today following a seven-week trial.
During the trial the court heard how Liam had a text on his phone which read “Your a dead man”.
The message was sent from a phone used as part of a drugs line and was linked to Kiyago who was arrested in August.
Police discovered that both phones were in the area of the murder scene at the time of the killing.
The stabbing was believed to be a revenge attack following thefts from people acting as runners for local drug dealers.
Kiyago was one of those dealers and he was charged with the murder in September.
Detective Sergeant DS Brett Hagen, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We believe the motive for the attack was a feud over stolen drugs. What we can be certain of is that the victim was subjected to a vicious and sustained knife assault that caused terrible injuries and had a devastating impact on his family and friends.
“The scene that faced officers and witnesses that night was truly dreadful and I am glad that the instigator of this brutal murder, Cedric Kiyago, has been brought to account.
“Kiyago is a habitual criminal who was on prison licence for offences of drug-dealing. He now faces a very long term of imprisonment and I am sure the streets of London will be a safer place because of it.”
Liam’s family said: “As a family, we are heartbroken that Liam was taken from us, leaving his two young boys without their daddy. The impact this has had upon us is difficult to describe. Nothing will ever bring Liam back and this has left a permanent hole in the lives of all of us who loved him.
“We would like to thank the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their dedication and hard work in bringing the person responsible to justice.”
Three other men, one from Ilford and one from Woodford, were all acquitted of murder at the same trial.
Tags: Romford, Havering, Harold Hill
