ROBBERY PAIR FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER
MAN FELL FROM WINDOW DURING A RAID
TWO teenage robbers from Hillingdon have been found guilty of manslaughter after one of their victims fell from a window and died.
Ide Faysal and Abidiqader Shidane, both 18, carried out a spree of robberies in Reading between May 14 and June 25 2017.
Samuel O’Brien, 31, sustained a head injury after he was robbed and assaulted by the pair in St Giles Close, Reading, on July 2.
Mr O’Brien, a “devoted father”, managed to flee from the pair into a block of flats in Southampton Street, before trying to escape by jumping from a second storey window.
The victim fell and sustained fatal injuries, dying later that day.
The teenagers had previously threatened a 21-year-old man and 42-year-old man with weapons while robbing them of their phones and bank cards in separate incidents.
Faysal, of Poplar Place, Hayes, was convicted of three counts of robbery and one count of manslaughter after a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on Thursday January 18.
Shidane, of Crest Gardens, Ruislip, had pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and was found guilty of one count of manslaughter by the jury.
The teenagers were tried over three weeks at Reading Crown Court and will be sentenced on February 12.
Investigating officer Det Chi Insp Matt Stone, of Reading Force CID, said: “This was a case in which the offenders travelled to Reading from London to commit violent robberies against lone male victims in the town centre.
“Tragically, on July 2 Samuel O’Brien died after falling from a window, having sustained head injuries from the robbery. I would like to commend Mr O’Brien’s family for the great courage and humbling dignity they have shown throughout the trial.
“I hope the conviction of those responsible for Mr O’Brien’s death can provide some small measure of comfort for his loved ones.”
Mr O’Brien’s family paid tribute to him in a statement released to police after the convictions.
It said: “Sam was an extremely popular man, a much loved son and a brother, with everything to live for, and a devoted father to his seven-year-old son, who is devastated.
“As a family we are united in grief. His loss has deeply affected us all. He had many things planned and had a very bright future ahead of him before his life was so tragically cut short.
“Sam is deeply missed by all of his family and friends and a light has gone out of our lives. We have finally got justice for Sam.”