Man found guilty of murder of young man stabbed near Grace Mews in Bromley
Published: 21:12, 27 November 2019
A man has been found guilty of the "horrific" murder a 22-year-old who was lured to his death in Bromley.
Kevin Lusala repeatedly stabbed Ayodeji Habeeb Azeez in a car park at the rear of Grace Mews on November 4 last year.
He was tricked into thinking he was meeting up with a woman who he had been in contact with.
But instead a group of young men were waiting to rob him, including Lusala, of Eldred Drive, Orpington, who was armed with a large knife.
The 23-year-old and three others had been on trial for murder and conspiracy to rob.
Chaise Gray 24, of Harding Court, Lancaster Road, a 17 year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of conspiracy to rob.
Another man, aged 17 at the time of the stabbing, was found not guilty of murder or conspiracy to rob.
The jury heard Ayodeji had left his home address in Dagenham around 11am and drove his blue BMW to Anerley in Bromley.
He was attacked while still in his car and although he tried to defend himself, he was overwhelmed.
Lusala stabbed Ayodeji multiple times before Gray took to the wheel of the victim's car and drove away with it towards Marlow Road before abandoning it a few streets later.
Ayodeji managed to leave the scene in the opposite direction shouting for help.
He staggered to an address in Samos Road where he managed to alert the occupants before collapsing.
Police were called 12.30pm and attended along with London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance.
"Ayodeji was unsuspectingly led to his death that day by someone whom he was hoping to meet as a friend, I can't imagine his horrific realisation to find instead, a group of males intent on malicious action" - DCI Mark Cranwell
Despite the efforts of paramedics, Ayodeji was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.59pm.
A post-mortem later confirmed Ayodeji was stabbed 16 times across his body by a knife.
DCI Mark Cranwell, who led the murder investigation from specialist crime south unit, said: "These are a tragic set of events that has resulted in the worst possible outcome - the loss of young man’s life.
"A grieving family have been deprived of all that Ayodeji may have become.
"Ayodeji was unsuspectingly led to his death that day by someone whom he was hoping to meet as a friend, I can't imagine his horrific realisation to find instead, a group of males intent on malicious action.
"I would like to thank his family who have shown such courage during the course of the investigation."
Sentencing will take place at the Central Criminal Court on Friday, December 20.
If you have information about someone you suspect to be carrying a weapon or involved in criminal activity and you do not want to speak to police, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visit visiting their website https://crimestoppers-uk.org
- Young people can also contact the charity Fearless via its website fearless.org
Read more: All the latest news from Bexley and Bromley
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Geoffrey Bew