‘We will never get over the loss’: Man jailed for stabbing ‘loving father’ to death in bar brawl
David Joseph Johnson, 37, of Haddo Street in Greenwich, was found guilty of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm with intent in February following a three-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court.
Today he has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, with 17 years on extended license.
Ibrahim Bah, 34, died in the early hours of May 1, 2022, from a single stab wound.
At just after 2am, a fight broke out following an altercation between a large group of people outside Belushi’s bar in Greenwich High Road, next to Greenwich railway station.
Following the sentencing, Mr Bah’s family said: “While no sentence will ever bring our beloved Ibrahim back, we are happy with the sentence that was given and all the hard work that has been put in.
“We thank every single person in the British Transport Police who has worked on this case and helped bring justice for Ibrahim.
“As a family we would like to move on and gain the closure that this sentencing has given us, and while we will never be able to get over the loss of Ibrahim, we hope to help build a life for his children and ourselves.
“We hope that people will learn from this and the knife pandemic in London can be curbed. David Johnson not only stole Ibrahim’s life but also that of every single person that loved him.
“We belong to Allah and to him we return. We pray for Allah to grant him Jannah.”
CCTV footage played in court captured the moment Johnson pulled a knife from his waistband and began waving it around, slashing a 37-year-old man across the arm.
He then made a beeline for Mr Bah, and quickly stabbed him once in the abdomen. Mr Bah collapsed to the pavement and was surrounded by people who came to his aid.
Officers and paramedics raced to the scene and Mr Bah was taken to hospital where he died an hour after the attack.
Johnson was identified by cops who reviewed mobile phone and CCTV footage of the incident, and the following day he was arrested at an address in New Cross.
DI Daren Bates, senior investigating officer in the case, said: “Johnson’s senseless and cowardice violence that night has resulted in the needless loss of a caring father.
“My thoughts remain with Mr Bah’s family whose lives will never be the same. While no verdict will ever be justice enough for them, I hope they can take some comfort in the fact that Johnson will be spending his foreseeable future incarcerated.
“This conviction is a result of tireless work by our investigative team, who are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring Britain’s callous criminals are removed from society and put behind bars.”
Pictured top: David Johnson, bottom left, looks on at the panic of the public attempting to help his victim, Ibrahim Bah (Picture: BTP)