A North London man has been found guilty of a brutal murder, after he battered his victim to death and left the body curled in a bath for ten days.
Discovery and Arrest
Police were called to a property on Moselle Avenue in Wood Green on September 20 last year after a neighbour reported a disturbing and dreadful smell emanating from the flat. Upon forcing entry, officers made a grim discovery: the body of 40-year-old Marvin Dickson.
Mr Dickson's remains were found in the bathtub of the home belonging to his killer, Dante Forrest. The court heard that a pathological examination concluded the victim died from substantial blunt force trauma to the left side of his head.
The Final Hours and Trial
The last known sighting of Marvin Dickson alive was on CCTV footage from the early hours of September 10. He was seen walking with Dante Forrest and carrying a takeaway pizza box. Evidence gathered from Forrest's flat included a blood-stained pizza box, indicating that the fatal attack occurred shortly after they were last seen together.
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, a jury deliberated for approximately seven hours before returning a guilty verdict against Dante Forrest for murder on Thursday. As the foreman announced the decision, members of Mr Dickson's family, who were seated in the public gallery, burst into tears.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Addressing the defendant, Judge Nigel Lickley KC confirmed that a life sentence would be imposed. Forrest, of Moselle Avenue, Wood Green, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18.
This shocking case highlights the tragic consequences of violence and the vital role community vigilance can play, as it was a neighbour's alert that ultimately led to the discovery of the crime.
