A teenage boy has been convicted of murder after a fatal stabbing at Northwick Park after a row over payment for drugs.
The teenager (cannot be named due to his age), was found guilty of the murder of 17-year-old Jamalie Maleek Deacon Matthew from Brent today (Thursday, 17 June).
The boy had pled guilty to possession of a pointed and bladed article at the start of the trial. He will be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday, 29 July.
The court heard how on Thursday, 12 November Jamalie had left college to meet a friend and then headed to Northwick Park, Wembley at 15:35hrs.
His friend had received a phone call from an unknown number asking to meet him to buy some cannabis. It is now known that the caller was the defendant.
Once in the park Jamalie and his friend approached the defendant at which point, the friend handed over a number of bags of cannabis. The defendant then refused to hand over any money.
He drew a knife from a black sheath, which was hidden under his clothing to threaten Jamalie and his friend. Jamalie drew a copper pipe he had in his bag to defend himself. He was stabbed in the abdomen and the right shin by the defendant in the process.
Witnesses told the court that Jamalie was hunched over holding his stomach and barely made it a short distance before collapsing.
London Ambulance service and the police arrived swiftly but despite the best efforts of the emergency services, Jamalie was pronounced dead at the scene.
The defendant walked off after the stabbing and officers immediately started the search for him. They caught up with him in the Stonebridge area, however the 16 year-old ran on to a railway line to avoid police.
It was four days later that he handed himself into police at Colindale Police Station and was arrested. In the process of running from police, the defendant discarded a school ID card and his mobile phone. Officers were able to link this to him.
Fast time CCTV and phone work showed that the defendant had been in the area twenty minutes before the stabbing and had boasted over text that he was planning to rob Jamalie’s friend for cannabis.
CCTV showed the entire attack on Jamilie, from the suspect arriving in the park to the three boys meeting and the fight that then ensued.
Detective Inspector Harbir Kooner said: “This was a needless and tragic killing of a young boy. A terrible loss of life over an argument that should never have taken place.
“I would like to thank the officers who worked tirelessly to get justice for Jamalie and his family. It was the fast time work of the team that lead to the subject handing himself in and identifying him at the scene which was fundamental to the case. No family should have to go through what Jamalie’s have and my thoughts continue to be with them as this case comes to a close.”
Source: Met Police
