Elijah Rowe stabbed rival drug dealer to death
Elijah Roye (left) murdered Abdirizak Hassan (right)
A teenager from Battersea has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years for killing a man in Roehampton
19-year-old Elijah Roye of Carey Gardens, was one of a trio of drug dealers who lured a rival into a trap by forcing a woman to tell him she wanted to buy drugs on 5 May 2021.
The woman was a vulnerable person and the gang waited at her flat on Dowdeswell Close. When 24-year-old Abdirizak Hassan, known as Abdi, arrived at 5.20pm they pounced on him in a brutal attack which lasted several minutes. Abdi died from a stab wound to the chest.
His body was not discovered until the following morning when police entered the flat.
Witness accounts, forensic evidence, CCTV footage and phone data led to all three suspects being identified. They were seen on CCTV leaving the area before splitting up.
Roye appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 November where he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Abdirizak Hassan, to serve a minimum term of 18 years. He had previously been convicted of murder at the same court on Friday, 27 May.
The other two teenagers involved in the attack were sentenced as part of this investigation on Friday, 21 October. 18-year-old Muhammed Danso of Fieldfare Road, Bexley, was previously found not guilty of murder but was convicted of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found not guilty of murder but was convicted of manslaughter. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
In a statement, the victim's family said, "Abdi was well loved son, brother and friend. He was a funny, clever, compassionate and big-hearted person. We miss him dearly and will cherish our memories of him forever."
Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge, the senior investigating officer, said, "This case clearly highlights the extreme levels of violence associated with the illegal drug trade and the devastating effects on our communities.
"The diligent and painstaking examination of hours of CCTV and phone data evidence linked our suspects to the scene and to each other. Knowing that three dangerous individuals have been taken off our streets has made those efforts wholly worthwhile.
"I praise the bravery of the witnesses in this case who came forward to assist the investigation. We need the support of the public if we are to reduce violence across London.
"While today's sentence won’t bring Abdirizak back to his family, but it is my sincere hope that they gain a sense of justice and closure now that the court process has concluded.”
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November 2, 2022
