A man from South London has been found guilty of murder after fatally stabbing a teenager during a violent clash between rival drug gangs, leaving the victim's body to decompose on a sofa for almost a week.
Verdict and Key Details
Leon Bangura, of Old Kent Road, Southwark, was convicted of murdering 19-year-old Kalvin Taylor at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday, 8 January 2026. He now faces a mandatory life sentence. Two other individuals, Adam Dugdale, 56, and Carrie-Anne Hall, 52, both from Norwich, were acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges.
The court heard that the killing on 15 September 2024 was rooted in a turf war between the 'Batman' and 'Lenny' county lines drug operations. Kalvin Taylor was associated with the Batman line, while Bangura worked for the rival Lenny line.
A Harrowing Attack and Abandoned Body
The incident unfolded at a flat on Lefroy Road in Norwich, where Taylor had been staying and dealing drugs. The male tenant of the flat testified that Dugdale had called to arrange a visit. Instead, Dugdale arrived with Hall and Bangura around 1pm, and the trio forced their way inside.
Hall attempted to push the tenant into a bedroom, stating the altercation was "nothing to do with you." The tenant pushed past her into the lounge, where he witnessed Kalvin produce a large ball of drug wraps. One of the assailants demanded, "Where's the money?" After Taylor indicated his jacket on the sofa, the money was taken.
Bangura then stabbed Kalvin Taylor once in the chest with a Rambo-style knife. The tenant reported that Bangura declared, "It’s done, let’s get out of here," before the group fled. The tenant described hearing Kalvin's breathing change and, realising he had died, he also left the property, deliberately leaving the door unlocked and a window open in the hope the body would be found. He placed Taylor's phone nearby to aid identification.
Kalvin's body was not discovered until 21 September 2024, when a member of the public alerted police. Officers found the door unlocked and the teenager's remains in a state of decomposition on the sofa. A post-mortem examination confirmed death was caused by a single stab wound to the chest.
Investigation and Trial Evidence
Bangura was arrested four days after the discovery, on 25 September, found in a parked car in Norwich in possession of a knife. During police interviews, Bangura and Hall gave no-comment responses, while Dugdale initially lied for over two hours before providing a more accurate account.
CCTV evidence played a crucial role in the trial. Footage showed a white Audi A3, believed to be an unlicensed taxi, stopping near Lefroy Road at 1pm on the day of the murder. The vehicle was later seen near Dugdale's home the following day. Further CCTV captured Bangura, having changed his clothes, walking towards Norwich railway station.
The court also heard that Kalvin Taylor had been armed with a large knife, approximately 14-15 inches long, which he kept in a black sheath. Two other defendants, Soulay Fornah and Matthew Holmes, were found not guilty of murder and assisting an offender respectively earlier in the trial.
Bangura had previously pleaded guilty to multiple drug supply charges and possession of a knife. He was found not guilty of threatening another person with a knife in a separate matter.
A Family's Anguish and Police Dedication
Following the verdict, Detective Inspector David McCormack, the Senior Investigating Officer, paid tribute to Kalvin Taylor's family. He said: "Kalvin’s family have shown immense courage throughout this lengthy and harrowing trial, listening to distressing evidence with dignity and strength."
He added, "This case demanded an extraordinary level of specialist detective work and intelligence gathering. From the moment Kalvin’s body was discovered, officers worked tirelessly to trace and arrest the suspects determined to evade capture. Today’s verdict is a testament to that relentless commitment to securing justice for Kalvin and his loved ones."
