‘My stepson was snatched away for giving killer a wrong look’

THE family of a man knifed to death as he ate lunch in a park said he had been “snatched away” by the teenage killer bec ause of a pett y di spute over a “wrong look”.

Ade Afariogun, 27, was stabbed in the stomach by Kaleb Amponsah, 18, during a confrontation in Plaistow Park in front of the victim’s foster mother.

The hooded killer pulled a kitchen knife out of his trousers and thrust it into Mr Afariogun, having spent the previous few minutes circling menacingly on his bicycle. At the Old Bailey last week Amponsah was found guilty of murder, but Mr Afariogun’s stepfather, Kay Oluwa, said the family were still unsure what sparked the attack.

“He has been snatched away from us and for what? We may never know the true reason”, he said. “[Amponsah] is a danger if he can kill someone over something so minor as a wrong look.”

Mr Oluwa said Amponsah had shown “no remorse” and “no understanding of what he has done to our family”, and they remained devastated at the killing. “I truly hope none of you will ever have to experience it”, he added.

Mr Afariogun had just been released from prison on a robbery conviction when he was attacked, on January 29.

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC told the court he had been “trying to get his life back on track” with the help of his best friend’s mother, Ann Marie Rosemond, who he had taken to calling “mum”. They met for the midday lunch when Amponsah, a known drug dealer, was seen circling the park on his bike, pulling faces, before finally confronting Mr Afariogun as he got up to leave.

“Ms Rosemond saw the defendant stop his bike and confront the victim, and heard Mr Afariogun ask him what it was he wanted”, said Mr Glasgow.

“She saw the defendant holding something in the waistband of his trousers — she grabbed hold of the defendant’s hood and pulled him away to try and stop the fight.” After inflicting the fatal blow, Amponsah l eft hi s bike and dropped his phone as he fled. He changed clothes but resumed his trade as a cannabis dealer that afternoon.

Amponsah, of Canning Town, was caught by DNA he left at the scene, and eventually admitted being the knifeman. The jury rejected his claim that he acted in self-defence and Mr Afariogun had been carrying the blade.

The teenager was remanded in custody until sentencing next month when he will be jailed for life.