18 year old Kaleb Amponsah was today, Friday August 26th, sentenced to 22
years in prison at the Old Bailey for the murder of a 27-year-old Nigerian man,
after stabbing
him to death in broad daylight in an east London park.
Amponsah, of Robertson Road, Newham, was found guilty on Thursday 28
July, at the Old Bailey of killing Ade Afariogun by stabbing him in the stomach
in front of the victim's friends.
On Friday 29 January, the victim was in Plaistow Park with three female
friends. Whilst there, they noticed Amponsah ride his bike past the group on
several occasions and stare aggressively at the victim.
Shortly before 13.15hrs, just as the victim was leaving the park,
Amponsah pulled up his bike in front of him and started an argument with him. A
scuffle followed during which the two exchanged punches. The victim's friend
attempted to intervene by pulling Amponsah away; but he produced a large knife
from his waistband, stabbing the victim in his stomach twice. So brutal was the
attack, that the victim received a 12cm injury to his abdomen.
He was rushed to Royal London Hospital, but despite the best efforts of
medical staff, he died during the early hours of Monday 1 February.
Immediately after the incident, Amponsah fled from the scene, leaving the
victim bleeding on the ground. In his haste he left behind his bike and mobile
phone. This proved vital in the investigation as detectives were able to
retrieve his DNA from both.
After leaving the park, Amponsah called a friend and went straight to his
address a few streets away from the murder scene. There he stayed for less than
20 minutes before getting a taxi to a street near his home address. He returned
to his home for a brief period, changing his clothes in the process.
He then took a second taxi from a nearby location to a friend who lived
locally, where he spent the remainder of the afternoon. On 5 February 2016,
Amponsah was arrested at his home address. Searches at the property revealed
the clothing worn by the killer, and a large knife concealed within his
mattress in his bedroom. Detective Sergeant Perry Benton said:
"Five months after the original charge, Amponsah admitted being
responsible for the fatal stabbing but claimed he had acted in self-defence
after the victim attacked him. Thankfully the jury saw through this unlikely
scenario, recognising this for the needless and cold-blooded murder it was. The
park where this took place is well used by a wide range of borough residents
and the local community should feel reassured that this type of attack is an
extremely rare occurrence. Ade was in the park with friends when he was killed
for reasons that we have been unable to ascertain. He was well loved by his
family and friends, who miss him very much."
Three other males arrested in connection with the incident aged 16 and 17
years were released with no further action.
Source: Metropolitan Police UK
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