Two Men Found Guilty of Camden Murder
Two men have been convicted of murdering 22-year-old Bright Akinleye in Camden back in February 2019. At the Old Bailey on Monday 9 March, Abdoulie Ceesay, 28, and Tashan Brewster, 31, were found guilty of the brutal killing.
Meanwhile, Oliver Petts, 30, pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial. All three will be sentenced on Thursday, 26 March.
Young Drill Manager Fatally Stabbed After Social Media Feud
Bright was filming a promo video for a drill music track with a rapper he managed when he was violently attacked. Detective Inspector Jamie Stevenson from the Met’s Specialist Crime said the murder stemmed from “taunting on social media.”
“It’s incomprehensible that this behaviour could lead to someone so young losing his life in such brutal circumstances,” said DI Stevenson. “Bright fought back and ran for his life but was cornered and fatally stabbed.”
Bright managed to escape the attackers and received first aid from officers, but tragically died before his family could say goodbye.
Knife-Wielding Attack Caught on CCTV
The drama unfolded on 18 February 2019. Around 10.45pm, Bright stumbled into a hotel on Euston Street with stab wounds. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
A post-mortem revealed a fatal stab wound to the leg. Homicide detectives discovered the attack happened inside a flat where Bright had been filming earlier with Ceesay and Petts. A group of men armed with a large knife ambushed him.
In a desperate struggle, Bright wrestled away the knife before running to the hotel where he collapsed. The bloody knife was found at the scene, later linked to Brewster by DNA evidence.
Police Tie Perpetrators to Scene with Phones and CCTV
Investigators uncovered a simmering feud involving Bright, Ceesay, and others, played out in aggressive social media posts and taunts. Brewster, who wasn’t part of the video shoot, arrived with Petts at the flat just before the attack.
CCTV tracked Petts’ Mercedes driving from South London to Euston, confirming his presence. The car was later found at a breaker’s yard in Kent. Phone records showed calls made to coordinate the assault.
Ceesay and Brewster were arrested two days after the murder; Petts a week later. All three men were charged and convicted accordingly.
Justice has been served for Bright Akinleye, whose promising life was cut tragically short in a senseless, knife-fuelled attack.
