Two Teens Jailed for Stabbing in Peckham Rye Park
A brutal stabbing in Peckham Rye Park has ended with two young men convicted of murder. Nah’shun Thomas, 20, and a 17-year-old boy were found guilty of killing 29-year-old Kalabe Legesse after a meticulous CCTV investigation tracked them down to their homes.
Fatal Stab During Mobile Phone Robbery
On the evening of December 30, 2022, Kalabe was sitting on a bench in Peckham Rye Park when the pair approached him on bikes. They threatened Kalabe in a bid to steal his mobile phone. The robbery took a deadly turn when Kalabe was stabbed once in the chest. Despite emergency help, he died at the scene from a haemorrhage caused by the wound.
CCTV Breakthrough and Shocking Evidence
Detectives poured over hours of CCTV footage to trace the suspects. Their persistence paid off, identifying the murderers’ addresses and leading to their arrest. Further inquiries revealed the killers had previously robbed others at knife-point, a fact they admitted at trial.
Police later found a hunting knife, hidden in the 17-year-old’s grandmother’s bedroom, stained with Kalabe’s blood – a vital piece of evidence confirming their guilt.
Justice for Kalabe
The defendants remain in custody ahead of their sentencing at croydon/" title="Croydon" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Croydon Crown Court on April 19. Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge said, “For cruelly and needlessly ending Kalabe Legesse’s life, they will have years ahead of them in prison to reflect on their actions and the lives they have destroyed.”
Kalabe’s grieving family thanked the police for their dedication. They stressed that nothing would bring their son back, and condemned the cold-heartedness of the killers and the lasting pain inflicted on all their families.
