A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 27 years for a brutal revenge killing that unfolded on one of London's busiest streets, described by witnesses as resembling something from the "Wild West".
The Fatal Confrontation
Awad Abdel Samad stabbed 19-year-old Mohamed Abdi three times during a violent confrontation on Edgware Road on the evening of June 4, 2024. The fatal blow penetrated the cartilage of Abdi's ribs and entered his heart, causing catastrophic injuries.
The court heard that both men were travelling in separate vehicles through heavy traffic when the incident erupted. Abdi, driving a black Porsche Cayenne, pulled close behind the Seat Leon containing Samad and another man, flashing his lights aggressively.
Both vehicles stopped and Samad emerged armed with a knife. Prosecutors described how Mohamed Abdi also exited his vehicle carrying a weapon, leading to a brief but deadly confrontation.
25 Seconds of Violence
The entire attack lasted just 25 seconds, according to police investigators. In a crucial moment, Samad kicked Abdi's knife from his hand, leaving the teenager defenceless against his armed attacker.
"The defendant gained a crucial advantage when he managed to kick Mohamed Abdi's knife out of his hand," prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told jurors. "From that point, only one of them had a weapon."
The disarmed victim retreated to his Porsche vehicle, but Samad pursued him, reaching the car door before Abdi could secure himself inside. The fatal stabbing occurred as Samad attacked the teenager while he sat in the driver's seat.
Motive and Aftermath
Judge Lynn Tayton told the Old Bailey that Samad had acted in revenge, believing Abdi was involved in the kidnapping and torture of his friend, Soufian Chafi, just two days earlier. Footage of that earlier attack had been circulated on social media, showing Chafi "naked and being humiliated".
Despite his injuries, Abdi managed to drive a short distance to Bell Street where he collapsed. Members of the public and paramedics attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Samad attempted to evade capture by travelling to a hospital in Luton under a false name to receive treatment for injuries sustained during the altercation. However, Metropolitan Police officers used advanced technical data analysis and CCTV evidence to track and apprehend him.
In a victim impact statement, Abdi's mother Sharon and sister Amirah described him as a "cherished son and loving brother" and "a young man who had much to live for". Judge Tayton noted that his family now lives with the fear that "his life has been stolen".
Sentencing and Co-defendant
Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Tayton stated: "You acted with extreme aggression and persistence in attacking Mr Abdi. I am satisfied this was a revenge attack and you acted as part of a group."
The judge emphasised the public nature of the violence, noting it occurred "on a congested street where there were many people in vehicles and on foot. You can see how terrifying this was to members of the public."
Mohamad Mahmoud El-Hazzaa, 27, who was driving the Seat Leon, received a three-year prison sentence for attempting to pervert the course of justice. The court heard that while El-Hazzaa did not participate directly in the violence, he acted as the getaway driver, transporting Samad away from the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Denby of Specialist Crime South praised the investigation that brought Samad to justice, noting that officers "used advanced analysis of technical data alongside CCTV of the event to prove without doubt that Samad was the person who killed Abdi".
