Two men have appeared at the Old Bailey accused of travelling from Bedford to South London with two young children in their car to carry out a fatal knife attack on 33-year-old Ayowale Aladejana.
Ben Wazabanga and Ronique Belfon, both aged 23, are charged with the murder of Mr Aladejana, who was stabbed outside his home in Monson Road, New Cross, on the evening of Saturday, 2 August 2025.
Couple travelled with children in car for ‘targeted
In a hearing on Wednesday, prosecutor Ben Holt described the incident as a “targeted attack”, alleging the defendants had driven with one- and two-year-old children in the vehicle to commit the murder.
Emergency services were called shortly before 7.30pm after reports that a man had been stabbed and was bleeding heavily in a front garden. Paramedics were first on the scene, followed by police, but despite their efforts, Mr Aladejana was pronounced dead at 8.13pm.
The incident was reportedly captured on Ring doorbell footage, which showed the suspects’ car circling the victim’s address several times before stopping. Wazabanga is alleged to have exited the vehicle and approached the property. Mr Aladejana is heard on video asking:
“Brother, why you coming to my home?”
Prosecutors say that after a brief exchange, Wazabanga stabbed the victim once in the chest before returning to the car and fleeing the scene with Belfon and the two children.
The pair were arrested two days later and formally charged with murder on Monday, 4 August. Wazabanga faces an additional charge of possession of a knife.
In court, Wazabanga appeared in person while Belfon joined via video-link from HMP Bronzefield. The defendants, both of whom are Belgian nationals residing in Bedford, spoke only to confirm their names.
Judge Lynn Tayton KC described the case as:
“A targeted killing and one that was planned.”
The court set a plea hearing for 23 October 2025, with a provisional four-week trial scheduled to begin on 13 April 2026.
Both defendants were remanded in custody.
