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David Maxwell, 18, was brutally attacked in broad daylight last year in southeast London
TWO MEN have been convicted of murder after they stalked a teenager down the street and stabbed him in the back.
Ronnie Atuqiya, 20, from Dagenham and Chudi Hengari-Ajufo, 18, were found guilty yesterday (May 18) at the Old Bailey of killing 18-year-old David Maxwell last October.
Investigating officer detective inspector Nathan Eason, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "This was a brutal and vicious attack in broad daylight on a teenager just walking down the street.
"Atuqiya and Hengari-Ajufo stalked David and his friend through the local area before striking. Atuqiya was carrying at least one knife - he and his associate clearly intended to cause David very serious harm that day."
He added: "It remains unclear what the motive for this attack was but I am pleased at today's convictions."
On Halloween last year (Oct 31) at around 2:30pm David was walking along Pilgrimage Street towards Long Lane in Southwark, southeast London, with a friend when he was approached by two males from behind.
One pulled out a knife and stabbed David in the back and shoulder. David, who lived in a hostel in Borough Road, stumbled forward and collapsed on the pavement.
The two suspects then ran off in the opposite direction.
Passing members of the public tried to help David and London's Air Ambulance was called. But, he died at 3:13pm at the scene.
A post-mortem examination found one of the stab wounds had pierced his heart.
Several witnesses saw the attack and identified a man with the street name of 'Billz' as the suspect holding the weapon.
CONVICTED: (From left): Ronnie Atuqiya, 20, and Chudi Hengari-Ajufo, 18, were found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey
Billz was quickly identified as Atuqiya and he was arrested at his home on November 3. Clothing matching that wore by the suspect on the day of the murder was found in his bedroom.
Mobile phone analysis pinpointed Atuqiya at the scene of the murder and then moving away from the area towards Hengari-Ajufo mother's address.
Hengari-Ajufo was arrested ten days later on November 13. His mobile phone records again put him at the murder scene at the right time.
Examination of CCTV footage showed the suspects together at the time of the murder in the area and following David and his friend.
The murder itself was not caught on camera but footage immediately afterwards showed Atuqiya and Hengari-Ajufo running at speed from the scene.
Both men were subsequently charged with murder. They will be sentenced on July 3.