Upbringing cannot excuse moped ‘highwaymen’ murder spree
TWO killers described as “21st-century highwaymen” were told by a judge that their troubled upbringing was no excuse for their murderous spree as they were jailed for life.
Nathan Gilmaney, 19, and Troy Thomas, who was 17 when they robbed 28-year-old Abdul Samad of his iphone, lashed out when he refused to give them his PIN and stabbed him to death.
Video footage captured them riding around on a moped and attacking strangers at will on October 16 last year.
Judge Richard Marks, the Common Serjeant of London, heard both teenagers had problems in their lives, but dismissed them as a reason for their violence.
He said: “There are many young people who have these of difficulties who do not resort to thuggish and wicked behaviour like you did that night.”
Mr Samad, who was engaged to be married, was killed during a four-hour robbery spree carried out by the pair when they were “bored” after smoking cannabis and taking Xanax.
The killers were handed life sentences at the Old Bailey. Gilmaney must spend 27 years in jail and Thomas 22.
Thomas admitted theft, three counts of attempted robbery and six counts of robbery. He had denied four counts of wounding with intent but a jury found him guilty.
Oliver Glasgow QC, prosecuting, said they were “highwaymen of the 21st century who thought they had the right to threaten and rob whoever they found, who attacked their targets in a brazen and shocking manner and who stabbed their victims often for no reason other than simple aggression and blood lust”.
He said the pair had both armed themselves with a knife and set out on Gilmaney’s moped to steal wallets, phones and valuables to sell on.
One of their victims was charity worker Mr Samad.
His mother Layla Begum said the murder has “absolutely broken” the family, adding: “Since his death there has not been a single moment that goes by for me without shedding tears.”
His fiancée recalled their last conversation, and said: “The last thing Abdul said to me was, ‘watch, this year will be our year and we will be a family’. I felt like I died with Abdul that day. He took a part of me that will never come back.”