Chris Enaruba fatally stabbed 18-year-old Denzel Njemo during an assault in the town centre.
Enaruba and an associate had travelled to Dartford to meet the victim in the evening of 14 April 2023. Upon meeting in the High Street, Enaruba lunged at Mr Njemo with a knife, inflicting an injury to his leg. This led to a fight and shortly after Enaruba stabbed the victim again, this time in the chest.
Police and medical crews attended but Mr Njemo died at the scene. Prior to the attendance of patrols, Enaruba discarded his jacket and the knife near to an electricity sub-station. He then went to Darenth Valley Hospital for treatment to injuries he had suffered during the incident.
An investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate located both the discarded jacket and knife, and on 15 April Enaruba and his associate were arrested in Gillingham. Enaruba, 19, of Copper Mead Close, Cricklewood was charged with murder, He denied the charge and a trial was held at Maidstone Crown Court. On Friday 27 October, a jury found Enaruba not guilty and convicted him instead of manslaughter. Sentencing will take place on 14 December.
The 19-year-old man who had travelled to Dartford with Enaruba was found not guilty of a charge of assisting an offender.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Ross Gurden, said: ‘Whilst he may never have intended to kill Mr Njemo, Enaruba had travelled into Dartford armed with a knife and he had little hesitation in using what proved to be a deadly weapon.
‘Ultimately Enaruba’ s actions have cut short a young life and devasted an entire family. Mr Njemo attended the local college in Dartford and had plans to attend university. Instead of seeing their son grow older and work towards a career, his parents now have to come to terms with the needless and senseless loss of a much-loved son, and brother to a younger sister.’
