A teenage boy has been found guilty today of murdering a 20-year-old man in Mile End in a dispute over eggs being thrown.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stabbed Syed Jamanoor Islam during an argument that escalated outside his home in Wagner Street on April 11 this year.
Inner London Crown Court heard Nayeem Chowdhury, 18, of Burdett Road, Mile End, and 19-year-old Samiur Rahman, of Cypress Street, Bethnal Green, had thrown eggs in jest at Syed’s brother but they had landed on the victim’s front door.
The act was taken as a sign of disrespect and led to the tyres on Chowdhury’s car being slashed and a fight broke out during which Rahman was assaulted.
Following the fight, three suspects were spotted on CCTV driving around Wagner Street in a rented Ford Fiesta looking for Syed’s brother.
They were armed with a hunting knife and a baseball bat.
When Syed confronted Chowdury he was hit with a baseball bat by Ismail Muhammad Uddin, 18, of Cahir Street, Canary Wharf, and stabbed by the 16-year-old in his left leg.
The wound pierced the femoral artery and vein and Syed died at the scene.
A jacket recovered at the crime scene contained Chowdury’s driving licence and car keys and hours after the attack Rahman, who had rented the car, reported the vehicle as stolen.
All four defendants fled to different addresses in the north of England and the Midlands but were arrested and subsequently charged.
Today the 16-year-old was convicted of murder.
Chowdhury was found guilty of conspiracy to commit ABH, Uddin was found guilty of conspiracy to commit ABH and possession of an offensive weapon and Rahman was found guilty of conspiracy to commit ABH and perverting the course of justice.
All four were remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on December 22.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Lynes, who led the investigation, said: “Syed was brutally attacked by these defendants who went out that day looking to cause trouble and inflict serious harm on the victim’s brother, following a petty dispute which quickly turned sour.
“It was a single stab wound to the victim’s leg which caused significant injury and ultimately proved fatal, and I hope serves as a cautionary tale to any young people thinking about carrying and using a knife and not thinking about the possible consequences.”
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