Abdelaziz Maaroufi, 25, of Woodside End, Alperton, appeared at Harrow Crown Court on Wednesday, 12 July, where he was convicted of manslaughter following trial.
The conviction follows a murder investigation that was launched after 67-year-old Peter, known to family and friends as Frankie, died in hospital from injuries sustained during a disagreement about parking.
Detective Inspector Louise Caveen of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “We don’t know what made Maaroufi involve himself in the argument or why he resorted to extreme violence.
“Violence is never the right option, no matter what the disagreement and anyone who allows their temper free reign in this way risk finding themselves in the same position as the defendant.”
Police had been contacted by London Ambulance Service [LAS] at 16:20hrs on Friday, 9 September 2022 saying they had taken an injured man to hospital from Abbey Industrial Estate in Alperton.
Officers attended the industrial estate and a crime scene was put in place. They also attended the hospital where Peter Marecheau was being treated for a life-threatening head injury. Sadly, he died in hospital on Monday, 12 September.
Detectives established that the victim worked at an industrial unit on the estate and had parked his car outside a nearby unit, where the defendant worked. The unwritten rule on the estate was that if a car needed to be moved, someone would toot their horn and the vehicle would be moved.
However, on this day, the owner of the unit sounded his horn three times before Peter emerged from his workshop. An argument broke out between Peter and the owner of the unit. Maaroufi took it upon himself to get involved in the argument and pushed Peter four times. Despite others trying to diffuse the situation and Peter backing away, Maaroufi punched Peter once in the face, causing him to fall backwards onto the floor, which in turn caused a significant head injury.
Following Peter’s death, a post-mortem examination concluded that he had died as a result of blunt force head injury.
CCTV of the incident showed Maaroufi arguing with Peter before punching him in the face.
Abdelaziz Maaroufi was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, 12 September. He admitted to being the person involved in this incident but suggested that he was acting in self-defence.
Maaroufi was charged with murder and subsequently pleaded not guilty. He was remanded in custody to await trial.
Following the verdict, Maaroufi was remanded in custody for sentencing at the same court on Friday, 21 July.
Detective Inspector Caveen added: “My thoughts are very much with Peter’s family today. I hope that they can find a small measure of solace in knowing that Abdelaziz Maaroufi will face the consequences of his actions.”
