Two men ordered pints of Guinness at a pub moments after stabbing another man to death 13 times in latest London stabbing attack
David Walcott, 35, Rammon Mali, 33, were found guilty at the Old Bailey today of the murder of Rijkaard Siafa, 22, in Croydon, south London, on April 12 last year.
Stallholders at Croydon Market were packing away when the killing took place just before 6pm.
Jurors watched CCTV which showed the moment the defendants chased Mr Siafa where 20 seconds later he was stabbed to death.
The defendants and a third man, then went to The Spread Eagle pub to drink their pints.
The third man cannot be named for legal reasons, remains outstanding.
They left shortly afterwards at 6.04pm after they were asked to remove their hats because of the pub’s rules.
At the murder scene, Mr Saifa died at 6.28pm despite treatment from the emergency services.
Walcott was later arrested and told police: ‘This is madness. How am I getting nicked for murder bro? You ain’t even got the right person,’ adding: ‘I’m not a murderer bro, I didn’t kill nobody.’
Mali fled the country but was arrested at Gatwick Airport when he returned on May 5.
Walcott and Mali denied involvement in the stabbing but have been found guilty of murder, with Walcott also convicted of having an article with a blade or point.
They are in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
Judge Anuja Dhir KC addressed Mr Siafa’s family in court and said: ‘They have throughout this case behaved with complete dignity. It cannot be easy. It is a relatively modern phenomenon to have CCTV footage of the type we had in this case.
‘It is very difficult, I can see, to see the moments before and the moments after in that footage. It is quite brave to watch it and to behave in the way you did during this case.
‘I hope this trial brings some form of closure to those who are in court before me today.’
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend said: ‘Our thoughts very much remain with Rijkaard’s family and friends, who had to relive the last traumatic moments of his young life during the trial after the defendants failed to take responsibility for their actions.
‘The defendants acted together, as a team. They had been looking for Rijkaard during the afternoon of Friday April 12 and when they found him, they viciously attacked him. He didn’t stand a chance.’
Duo ordered pints of Guinness at pub minutes after stabbing man to death