Man guilty of manslaughter after deadly Southall stabbing over street spat
Tragic Row Ends in Fatal Stabbing
A 36-year-old man has been convicted of manslaughter following a fatal stabbing in Southall. Gurjeet Singh Lall, of Vine Cottages, St Mary’s Avenue, attacked 69-year-old Allan Isichei after a brief verbal row over Lall spitting in the street.
The clash happened on Saturday 24 August 2019, just as Allan left The Plough pub in Tentelow Lane, where he’d enjoyed a quiet drink in the beer garden. The regular pub-goer was walking home when he bumped into Lall, who was leaning against a wall and spitting in the street. Words were exchanged and things quickly turned violent.
Attack Details and Police Response
After Allan turned away and placed his tablet on a nearby car, the argument reignited. Lall suddenly pulled a knife and stabbed Allan multiple times during a struggle, although Allan managed to disarm him.
Despite serious injuries, Allan staggered to a neighbour’s door pleading for help. Emergency services arrived swiftly but, despite attempts to save him, Allan died at 7:56 pm that evening.
Police traced Lall via a blood trail and arrested him first on suspicion of attempted murder, upgrading to murder after Allan’s death. A post-mortem found multiple knife wounds, with the fatal injury an incised wound to the abdomen.
Manslaughter Verdict and Family Outrage
Although Lall claimed self-defence, a court convicted him of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility on 26 October. Sentencing is scheduled for 14 December.
Allan’s family spoke out, branding Lall’s self-defence claim “bogus” and demanding answers about how a known knife carrier was free on the streets. “We’ve lost a kind, generous man who put others first,” they said. “The victim’s voice remains unheard because he was cruelly taken away.”
Police Condemn Knife Crime
Detective Inspector Jamie Stevenson expressed sympathy for Allan’s family and condemned Lall’s actions. “There was no reason for him to carry or use a knife that day. Allan was a creative, community-loving man whose loss is deeply felt. The jury rightly rejected the self-defence claim.”
Allan Isichei was not just a local legend but a pillar of the Southall community. A former builder and building firm director, he was also a Wasps rugby player and coach, and a talented saxophonist known for jazz gigs across London. His needless death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of knife crime.
