Serving Prisoner Convicted of Brutal Romford Stabbing Murder
A 21-year-old convicted for the savage killing of Liam Harman, 28, in Romford has been found guilty at the Old Bailey. Cedric Kiyago was stabbed ten times and left for dead in a communal block of flats on Straight Road in July 2017.
Stabbed 10 Times in Bloody Attack
Liam, from Harold Hill, was discovered by paramedics after emergency services were called just before 11pm on 11 July 2017. Despite their desperate attempts, he was pronounced dead at 11:15pm. The post-mortem revealed multiple stab wounds and severe cuts to his face, chest, and abdomen. Two critical wounds to his chest and abdomen caused his death.
Police Link Killer’s Phone to Threatening Message
Investigators uncovered a chilling text on Liam’s phone from the day of the murder: “Your a dead man.” This message was traced back to a phone used as a drugs line, held by Kiyago when arrested weeks later. Both phones were detected near the murder scene at the time of the attack.
Feud Over Stolen Drugs Led to Deadly Revenge
The court heard Liam had been stealing from local drug runners. Kiyago, a dealer and habitual criminal on prison licence for drug offences, allegedly targeted Liam in retaliation.
Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen, from Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “We believe the motive for the attack was a feud over stolen drugs. The victim was subjected to a vicious and sustained knife assault that caused terrible injuries and has had a devastating impact on his family and friends.”
“Kiyago now faces a long prison term. The streets of London will be safer because of it.
Liam’s family said: “We are heartbroken Liam was taken from us, leaving his two young boys without their daddy. Nothing will ever bring him back. We thank the police and CPS for their dedication in bringing Kiyago to justice.”
Kiyago will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 4 May. Three other men accused alongside him were cleared of murder.
