Blunder at Old Bailey Sees Three Men Cleared Over Adrian Keise Murder
Shockwaves rippled through Lambeth as three men accused of killing 32-year-old Adrian Keise near Waterloo Station walked free — thanks to a jaw-dropping jury blunder at the Old Bailey.
Jury Forewoman’s Mistake Sparks Chaos
The trial of brothers Paul and Matthew Yusuff, alongside their friend Moussa Traore, had gripped the courtroom. But after more than 10 hours of deliberation, a catastrophic error by the jury’s forewoman changed everything.
Asked twice in court if the jury had reached unanimous verdicts, she confidently said yes. Yet moments later, it became clear she’d got it all wrong. Judge Charles Gratwicke, who’d come out of retirement to oversee the case, was forced to recall the jury after receiving a secret note revealing the mistake.
Despite fierce protests from defence barristers, the judge grilled the forewoman, who admitted her error, and ordered the jury to continue deliberations — this time accepting a verdict agreed by at least 10 jurors.
Jury Discharged Twice After Nearly 13 Hours of Deliberation
The following day, after nearly 13 more hours, the jury was sent home again. Initially signalling no verdict, the forewoman quickly reversed course and found 21-year-old Paul Yusuff not guilty of possessing a blade or point. But no verdicts were reached on two other charges. The panel had been reduced to 11 after one juror sadly passed away earlier.
Legal Drama Continues as Retrial Looms
- Paul and Matthew Yusuff (21 and 23) and Moussa Traore (24) faced murder and manslaughter charges.
- Prosecutors must decide within seven days whether to call for a retrial.
- Adrian Keise was allegedly chased, surrounded, and fatally stabbed on October 29, 2022.
- Matthew Yusuff was accused of wielding a bottle; Paul Yusuff allegedly stabbed Keise three times in the back.
Defence barrister Kerim Fuad KC claimed his clients were being held “illegally” following the confusing verdict. Meanwhile, the devastated Keise family grapples with heartbreak and uncertainty.
The case remains open as the legal saga plays out — but one thing’s clear: this courtroom drama is far from over.
