A 30-year-old man has been convicted of murder after he called the police from a phone box to surrender following a fatal stabbing in North London.
Fatal Attack in Willesden Green
Elyas Moussa, of no fixed address, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, December 3, following a two-week trial. The court heard how Ricardo Clarke, 35, was attacked on Linacre Road in Willesden Green in the early hours of December 28 last year, at around 4.15am.
After being stabbed, Mr Clarke managed to leave the scene but tragically bled to death while on his way to seek medical attention at A&E.
The Confession and Investigation
Later the same day, Moussa contacted officers from a phone box located miles from the crime scene. He stated his intention to hand himself in and was subsequently arrested on Sunday, December 29. He was charged with murder and possession of a bladed article.
Despite the confession, detectives from the Metropolitan Police conducted a thorough investigation. They compiled a detailed CCTV timeline of the events leading to the killing.
The footage revealed that an initial altercation had broken out between the two men on Linacre Road, during which glass bottles were thrown. The pair separated, but Moussa later returned to the road armed with a knife, leading to a second clash and the fatal stabbing of Mr Clarke.
Plea and Upcoming Sentencing
At an earlier hearing, Moussa had pleaded guilty to possession of a pointed and bladed article in public on the date of the attack. He will be sentenced for the murder conviction at the same court on Wednesday, December 17.
Detective Inspector Jonny Newell, who led the investigation, commended the work of his team. "Despite Moussa handing himself in, officers worked quickly to meticulously piece together what happened that night," he said.
"The CCTV timeline, witness accounts and forensic evidence left no doubt that Moussa alone was responsible for Ricardo's death. Today’s conviction brings justice for Ricardo’s family, who have shown incredible strength throughout the proceedings."
