Rasheed Abdul Rahman, 21, of Dunmow Close, Chadwell Heath, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 27 years on Wednesday, May 27, at Wood Green Crown Court for the murder of Mark Carroll, a 55-year-old grandfather. The attack occurred on April 10, 2024, in St Martin's Gardens, London, while Rahman was on police bail for previous offences.
Attack and Immediate Arrest
Police were called to St Martin's Gardens at 1.37pm on the day of the murder following reports of an unresponsive man. Officers found Carroll with a stab wound and transported him to hospital, where he later died. Rahman left the scene quickly after the stabbing but was located by officers nearby and arrested on suspicion of murder.
In addition to the murder conviction, Rahman was found guilty of three other offences: possessing an article with a blade or point, threatening another with an offensive weapon, and robbery. He received a concurrent sentence of four-and-a-half years for these offences.
Prior Violent Incidents
In the two months before the killing, Rahman had stabbed Iulian Cavaliuc in a separate attack in East London. He was not found by the Met due to CCTV delays. He was also arrested after attacking members of the public in Camden Town, where he tried to kick and punch people before brandishing a metal pole. A member of the public stopped him by pushing him into the canal.
Rahman, a Syrian national, had arrived in the UK in a lorry as a child and was said to have experienced extreme trauma in his home country before arriving, but did not have medical evidence to defend his killing of Carroll.
Family Tributes and Police Response
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with Mark’s loved ones; the personal statements given by his daughters, Ayisha and Danielle, today demonstrate a heartbreaking insight into the lasting impact of his death. We sincerely hope today's outcome offers his family some measure of justice.”
Clarke added: “The Met remains committed to pursuing those responsible for serious violence and ensuring they are held accountable for their actions. Those efforts mean a positive outcome from 95 per cent of murder investigations.”
Carroll’s daughters, Danielle and Ayisha, paid tribute to their father after the sentence, saying: “Our Dad was a loving father and a devoted grandfather who meant the world to his family. While our family is relieved by today’s sentence, it does not bring our dad back.”
They continued: “This was an unprovoked attack on a completely innocent, dearly loved man. Becoming a grandad brought him immense happiness. He often told his friends that meeting his grandchildren was one of the greatest moments of his life. He absolutely adored his granddaughters and was so excited about meeting his grandson. Nothing made him prouder than being surrounded by his family.”
The daughters added: “When we were all together, there was always laughter. The memories we made together, the happiness we shared, and the love he gave so freely are things that we will cherish forever. We love you always, Dad.” The sentence reflects the severity of the unprovoked attack and the prior violent incidents that occurred while Rahman was on bail.
