Two teenagers who stabbed a Queen Street market trader in broad daylight after he tried to retrieve a stolen watch have been convicted in connection with his murder.
Two teenagers who stabbed a Queen’s Market trader in broad daylight after he tried to retrieve a stolen watch have been convicted in connection with his murder.
Javauntee Campbell, 16, of William Morley Close, East Ham, was found guilty of the manslaughter of 29-year-old Rashid Naeem by a jury at the Old Bailey earlier today. Karlton Burton, 15, also of William Morley Close, East Ham, was found guilty of murder in the same court yesterday.
Both boys can now be named after the judge decided that it was in the public interest to lift a court order banning their identification due to their ages.
A third male, aged 15, was found not guilty.
The court heard how the convicted pair carried out the “merciless killing” of Mr Naeem, 29, of Clements Road, East Ham, on February 16 this year.
Burton, Campbell and a third male approached the stall and started handling the mobile phones causing Rashid and his brother to become suspicious of their motives and move the phones somewhere elsewhere on the stall.
One of the group said to the brothers: “are you scared?”, before two of them stole some watches and walked off.
The brothers pursued the group and managed to recover one of the watches.
After the brothers spotted the group at another stall on the market about 15 minutes later, they confronted them about the remaining stolen watch.
A struggle ensued and Campbell and Burton attacked Rashid before stabbing him.
London Ambulance Service were called to the scene and Rashid was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he later died.
The group fled but were spotted on CCTV a short while later and arrested.
Campbell was found to be in possession of the watch that had been stolen from the stall on his arrival in custody.
The knife which was used in the attack was subsequently recovered outside an address on Green Street.
Detective Inspector Ken Hughes, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Rashid Naeem was killed as he tried to protect the business he ran with his brother.
“This was a cold-blooded killing in broad daylight, carried out in a merciless fashion.
“Burton and Campbell attended the market armed with a knife - whatever their intentions, to come armed meant they were prepared for violence.
“Throughout this trial, the defendants have shown no remorse, despite having ample opportunity to do so. I can only hope that today’s convictions give Rashid’s family some form of closure.”
Campbell and Burton have been remanded in custody ahead of their sentencing in September.
Read more:
Teenager found guilty of murdering market trader Rashid Naeem
Green Street stall holder received fatal injury in struggle to regain watch
Man dies after stabbing as Queen’s Market traders pay tribute
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