Men convicted of killing man in Walthamstow

Friday, 22 June 2012

GUILTY: Abubaker Alawi.

GUILTY: Kai Shannon.

VICTIM: Wahab Zaaki.

TWO men have been convicted of killing a man in Walthamstow in March 2009.
Kai Shannon, 20, from Islington, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of Wahab Zaaki’s murder last Thursday. He appeared at the same court with Abubaker Alawi, 20, from Leyton, who was found guilty of manslaughter.
Both defendants were also found guilty of GBH and will be sentenced for all offences on July 6.
The court heard how emergency services were called to a stairwell of a block of flats in Attlee Terrace on the night of the attack.
They reported that they had seen Wahab Zaaki attempting to flee the flats. He failed to escape and was stabbed five times. Other local residents rushed to his side after the incident and called for an ambulance, but the 18-year-old died before he reached hospital.
Shannon and Alawi were arrested on suspicion of the murder in May 2010 and bailed pending further enquiries.
During the trial it was revealed that Shannon and Alawi were known to the victim as well as a group called the ‘DM Crew’. On the night of the killing, various members of the group had gathered in the stairwell of the Walthamstow flats. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector Steve Meechan, who led the investigation, from the Met’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC), said: “This was a callous, cowardly and premeditated attack upon the young victim, by those he trusted as his friends. The motive for the attack remains unclear, the suggestion being a disagreement over an insignificant sum of money.
“It has taken three years to bring those responsible to justice. These defendants instilled within their peers a reluctance to assist police in this enquiry.
“The investigation team has worked closely within the community and the victims’ social group, to help allay fear of reprisals. This resulted in evidence being provided to the court by a key eyewitness, who himself was injured during the attack.
“The actions of these defendants have ended the life of a young man, leaving his family completely devastated. I can only hope that these convictions, have in some small way, helped them to come to terms with their sad loss.”

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