Man Jailed for Life Over Brutal Murder During Home Robbery
A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the savage murder of David Bello-Monerville during a 2019 home invasion. David, 38, was fatally stabbed as he tried to stop a gang ransacking his house in East Barnet.
Crime Details: Stabbing During Failed Robbery
On the night of 18 June 2019, David and his brothers were at their Welbeck Road home when three armed men attacked. Nathan Harewood, 29, from Muswell Hill, was found guilty of David’s murder after a lengthy trial at the Old Bailey. Harewood was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 31 years behind bars on 22 December.
Khalil Rehman, 27, and Francis Appiageyi, 28, were also convicted. Both were jailed for 13 years and six months for manslaughter, burglary, and assault on David’s brothers.
Violent Night Unfolds
- The trio arrived in a rented car armed with knives and a hammer.
- As David and brother Jonathan left to go to a shop, the men broke into the flat and stole a laptop and other valuables.
- David alerted a neighbour, and another brother, Taiye, was called to help.
- The robbers tried to flee but were stopped by the brothers, sparking a violent struggle.
- During the fight, Harewood stabbed David five times; Taiye and Jonathan were also wounded.
Police Evidence and Arrests
Forensic officers found crucial evidence at the scene, including a knife sheath with Appiageyi’s DNA, the murder weapon used by Harewood, and Harewood’s blood from a cut sustained during the attack. Phone records showed the suspects coordinating their escape.
All three were arrested within ten days and charged with murder.
“This was a senseless and barbaric crime,” said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge. “I am pleased that after 18 long months, we have been able to secure justice for David’s family.”
Family’s Heartbreaking Tribute
David’s mother, Linda Burke-Monerville, expressed her devastation in a victim impact statement:
“My son was a hard-working man, a wonderful human being and a wonderful son. Our family has struggled to comprehend how we could lose David in such horrific circumstances. I am truly broken. A mother should not bury her son. What these men did that night has changed our world forever.”
The sentence brings closure to a brutal crime that shook the community and devastated a family.
