An “extremely violent” man who stabbed a fellow party-goer to death has been found guilty of murder.
Salman Ahmed, 23, of no fixed address, was found guilty of killing Lamar Stewart after a four week trial.
The Old Bailey heard how police were called to reports of a disturbance in Ropey Street, Bow, in the early hours of September 30 last year.
They found Mr Stewart, 21, suffering from stab injuries, and despite the best efforts of medics and members of the public, he died later in hospital.
Both Ahmed and Mr Stewart, from Mitcham, had been attending the same birthday party and earlier that night, Ahmed had been involved in an altercation with another man while drunk.
The fight continued outside and Ahmed received an injury to his buttocks and thighs.
A short while later, he returned to the party, accompanied by a group of males, and began shouting that someone had stabbed him.
The group started angrily asking people who had stabbed Ahmed, as they did not know who was responsible.
Ahmed accused Mr Stewart, who had been sitting outside with a friend, and despite saying it was not him Ahmed and the another man tried to prevent his escape.
Mr Stewart tried to run away but he was stabbed and assaulted, with witnesses stating Ahmed had a black bladed knife in his hand.
Ahmed fled the scene in a cab but left traces of blood on the rear seat.
He was arrested in Southend on December 1 and charged with murder the following day.
Mr Stewart’s family paid tribute to a “fine young man with a zest for life”.
In a statement, they said: ”Salman Ahmed has not given any explanation for his actions and has offered no apology or sympathies. His violent and aggressive actions took a beautiful, kind, loving person from this world.”
Det Insp Rita Tierney added: “Ahmed was on a mission that night to exact violence. After causing a disturbance he was intent on attacking someone to seek revenge.
“Sadly the person he attacked was Lamar Stewart, an innocent young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Ahmed is an extremely violent man and now faces a lengthy custodial sentence.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here