Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Teen stabbed man in the back with knife carried by victim
A TEENAGER has been found guilty of murder after stabbing a man to death in a row over drug dealing.
Christian Kuta-Dankwa, 19, of Rayners Lane, Harrow, stabbed Mohamoud Mohamed Mahdi to death with a knife that the victim had brought to the scene after Mahdi questioned why KutaDankwa was ‘on his strip’.
Mahdi, 28, was stabbed three times in the back after Kuta-Dankwa tackled him to the ground following an altercation.
At around 4pm on February 18 CCTV caught Kuta-Dankwa and his friends in Watling Avenue, Edgware, as Mahdi appeared on the other side of the road and, following a chat with Kuta-Dankwa, Mahdi left the scene and returned with the knife that was later used to kill him.
During a later altercation Mahdi was disarmed and his knife fell into the road and he ran away. KutaDankwa took the weapon and chased Mahdi before tackling him to the ground and stabbing him three times in the back. Emergency services, including an off-duty police officer and doctor, rushed to the scene but despite their best efforts Mahdi was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who led the investigation, said: “Kuta-Dankwa claimed he was acting in self-defence but CCTV clearly showed that Mohamoud was leaving the scene before being chased and fatally stabbed.
“This tragic incident highlights the dangers of carrying knives. We know that those who carry these weapons are more likely to be victim to such violent attacks and that is why tackling violent crime of this kind continues to be the Met’s top priority.”
Kuta-Dankwa admitted in court that his friend had been dealing cannabis just before Mahdi approached them; this was likely the cause of the dispute.
The knife used in the murder was later found on the bed of a stream inside Watling Park, while the sheath was found at the scene of the stabbing.
The following day, Kuta-Dankwa handed himself into police where he admitted stabbing Mahdi but said he had acted in self-defence.
A 17-year-old male was found not guilty of murder at the same trial. Kuta-Dankwa will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday December 2.