A young man has been found guilty of murder after he stabbed a 20-year-old rival to death on an East London street following a dispute over a girl.
Deadly Retaliation on Residential Street
Raynolph Asante, aged 22, from Pembury Road in Hackney, was convicted at the Old Bailey yesterday (December 28) for the killing of Jason Romeo. The court was told that Asante gathered a group to confront Mr Romeo on Bodney Road in Lower Clapton on February 18 this year.
This confrontation was an act of retaliation for a violent incident earlier that same evening, which itself stemmed from an argument concerning a young woman. Asante then proceeded to stab Jason Romeo outside a property on the residential street, an act the prosecution described as "retaliating with deadly force."
Complex Investigation Leads to Arrest
With limited CCTV footage of the actual attack, detectives from the Metropolitan Police expanded their investigation to focus on vehicles seen in the area. This line of enquiry, combined with a detailed forensic analysis of mobile phone data, identified Asante as a key person of interest.
Officers executed search warrants at several addresses, uncovering further evidence. When the suspects remained at large, police took the decision to publicly name Asante and issue a media appeal with his photograph. This strategy resulted in him handing himself in to authorities. He was arrested just three days after the fatal stabbing.
Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, stated: "This was a senseless act of violence that cost a young man his life. Jason Romeo was just 20 years old, and his family and friends are now left to face the devastating impact of his loss."
She added: "During a confrontation, Raynolph Asante chose to retaliate with deadly force, gathering others to confront Jason and ultimately stabbing him in the street. There is no justification for such brutality."
A Family's Relief at Justice
Following the guilty verdict, the family of Jason Romeo released a heartfelt statement. They said: “The last ten months have been the most difficult of our lives but we are so relieved that we have got justice for Jason. Jason will always be remembered, forever missed and, as I used to tell him every day, always be loved.”
Four other men charged with murder—Joshua Ogedengbe, 19, Travis Mitchell, 22, and Rhamyah Bailey-Edwards, 21—were found not guilty by the jury at the Central Criminal Court.
Raynolph Asante is now awaiting sentencing for murder, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 23, 2026.
